What does PII stand for in the context of data protection?

PII stands for Personally Identifiable Information, which is a critical concept in data protection and privacy policies. This term refers to any information that can be used to identify an individual, either directly or indirectly. Examples of PII include names, social security numbers, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. The significance of protecting PII lies in its potential use for identity theft and other forms of fraud. Organizations that handle PII are required to implement measures to safeguard this data in order to comply with various privacy laws and regulations, ensuring that individuals' personal information is kept secure and confidential.