Definition

PII

PII, or personally identifiable information, is any data that can identify a specific person, either on its own or when combined with other details. Obvious examples include a name, Social Security number, email address, or device identifier; subtler ones include a location trail or an account handle that points back to an individual. Privacy laws such as GDPR and CCPA build their obligations around this category, so knowing exactly what PII you hold, where it lives, and who can reach it is the starting point for compliance. Companies that map their PII early make every later privacy decision far simpler.