What does PII stand for?

PII stands for Personally Identifiable Information, which refers to any information that can be used to identify an individual uniquely. This includes data such as names, social security numbers, addresses, and any other information that can be used, either alone or in conjunction with other information, to identify a specific person.

The term is crucial in contexts such as data protection and privacy regulations, where the safeguarding of personal information is emphasized to prevent identity theft and ensure that individuals' privacy is protected. Understanding PII is important for anyone handling sensitive information, especially in military and governmental contexts, where the mismanagement of such data could lead to security breaches or compromise individual privacy.