Are ‘usernames’ Privately-Identifiable Information (PII)? On their own, usernames and login IDs are not Privately-Identifiable Information (PII). They are insufficient on their own to identify a person.

Are usernames PII under GDPR?

Device IDs, IP addresses, Usernames and Cookies are considered as personal data under GDPR. According to the definition of the PII, they are not PII because there are anonymous and cannot be used on their own to identify, trace, or identify a person.

Is a username considered to be sensitive information?

Sensitive personally identifiable information can include your full name, Social Security Number, driver’s license, financial information, and medical records.

Is user name and password PII?

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is any piece of information meant to identify a specific individual. This often includes data such as a Social Security number, driver’s license number, financial accounts, email addresses, login credentials and passwords, addresses, phone numbers, and birth date.

What is not personal information?

Related Definitions Non-Personal Information means information or content other than Personal Information, including, for example, aggregated or anonymized information about our users and other information that does not identify any individual. Sample 1. Sample 2.

Are social media handles PII?

This means that more modern interpretations of PII can also include sources of data such as an IP address, login IDs, social media posts, digital images, geolocation, biometric and even behavioral data.

Is name and address sensitive data?

Personal data is also classed as anything that can affirm your physical presence somewhere. … Under certain circumstances, any of the following can be considered personal data: A name and surname. A home address.

Is name and email considered PII?

§ 200.79 Personally Identifiable Information (PII). … This type of information is considered to be Public PII and includes, for example, first and last name, address, work telephone number, email address, home telephone number, and general educational credentials.

What is considered PII?

Further, PII is defined as information: (i) that directly identifies an individual (e.g., name, address, social security number or other identifying number or code, telephone number, email address, etc.) or (ii) by which an agency intends to identify specific individuals in conjunction with other data elements, i.e., …

Is username a secret?

Usernames are not secrets and it usually doesn’t matter if someone can figure out your username. The important thing you need to keep a secret is your password. This is the key to unlocking your account.

Article first time published on

What is PII GDPR?

GDPR PII Definition PII or Personal Identifiable Information is any data that can be used to clearly identify an individual.

Is age considered PII?

Data elements that may not identify an individual directly (e.g., age, height, birth date) may nonetheless constitute PII if those data elements can be combined, with or without additional data, to identify an individual.

Is your name personal data?

A name and a corporate email address clearly relates to a particular individual and is therefore personal data.

What is considered sensitive PII?

Sensitive PII (SPII) is Personally Identifiable Information, which if lost, compromised, or disclosed without authorization, could result in substantial harm, embarrassment, inconvenience, or unfairness to an individual.

What is classed as sensitive information?

Answer. The following personal data is considered ‘sensitive’ and is subject to specific processing conditions: personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs; … data concerning a person’s sex life or sexual orientation.

Which of the following are examples of PII?

PII means information that can be linked to a specific individual and may include the following: Social Security Number; DoD identification number; home address; home telephone; date of birth (year included); personal medical information; or personal/private information (e.g., an individual’s financial data).

Does PII apply to companies?

Companies may maintain PII on their employees, customers, clients, students, patients, or other individuals, depending on the industry. … As companies compile PII on their employees, customers, or third-parties, companies also inherit responsibilities related to this data and expose themselves to potential threats.

Are fingerprints considered PII?

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) includes: … Personal address information: street address, or email address. Personal telephone numbers. Personal characteristics: photographic images (particularly of face or other identifying characteristics), fingerprints, or handwriting.

Which of the following is not PII?

Info such as business phone numbers and race, religion, gender, workplace, and job titles are typically not considered PII. But they should still be treated as sensitive, linkable info because they could identify an individual when combined with other data.

Is first name and last name PII?

Personal Identity Information (PII), also known as P4 data, is a specific category of particularly sensitive data defined as: Unencrypted electronic information that includes an individual’s first name or initial, and last name, in combination with any one or more of the following: Social Security number (SSN).

Are personal emails PII?

Yes, email addresses are personal data. According to data protection laws such as the GDPR and CCPA, email addresses are personally identifiable information (PII). PII is any information that can be used by itself or with other data to identify a physical person.

Is an IP address PII?

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which regulates use of online information about children under the age of 13, classifies IP addresses as “personal information,” although it does not use the term “PII.”7 The Federal Trade Commission, which is responsible for defining personal information under …

Are usernames necessary?

Why you need a unique username for every account The main issue with usernames is that they are public, not hidden like your passwords. Reusing the same username makes it easier for malicious actors to build your online profile. It also makes it easier for advertisers and random people to find and track you online.

What is the purpose of username?

Usernames allow multiple users to use the same computer or online service with their personal settings and files. When used on a website, a username enables you to maintain personal settings and identification with that website or service.

What is a user name used for?

A username is a unique identifier used to gain access to a computer, network, or online system. Usernames are also called an account name, user ID, login, or login ID.

Are cookies considered PII?

Information that is anonymous and cannot be used to trace the identity of an individual is non-PII. Device IDs, cookies and IP addresses are not considered PII for most of the United States.

Is cell phone PII?

Cellular Phone Numbers Have Become Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Organizations and businesses spend resources protecting customer and/or employee personally identifiable information (PII). This mitigates risks associated with identity theft as well as protect the organization from fines and lawsuits.

Is marital status considered personal information?

The Privacy Act defines personal information as any recorded information about an identifiable individual including: race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age or marital status. education, medical, criminal or employment history of an individual or information about financial transactions.

Is PII a legal concept?

PII is a legal term, not a technical one, and its meaning and connotations vary depending on the jurisdiction and context within which it is used.

Is a business name considered PII?

This non-exhaustive list shows examples of what may be considered personally identifiable information: Name: full names (first, middle, last name), maiden name, mother’s maiden name, alias. Addresses: street address, email address. Phone numbers: mobile, business, personal.

How can I protect my PII?

1. Be careful about sharing your social security number. …
2. Lock down your social media accounts. …
3. Be wary of public Wi-Fi. …
4. Get creative with security questions. …
5. Use strong passwords. …
6. Browse privately. …
7. Watch out for phishing scams.