To help understand Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and Sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (SPII), we have listed some examples for you to reference below. These are not all-inclusive lists, as you will identify more examples throughout your day-to-day activities, but these are representative examples of PII and SPII that can lead to identifying an individual.
Definitions
Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
PII is any information that permits the identity of an individual to be directly or indirectly inferred, including any information that is linked or linkable to that individual.
Sensitive PII (SPII)
SPII is any PII, which if lost, compromised, or disclosed without authorization, could result in substantial harm, embarrassment, inconvenience, or unfairness to an individual. Sensitive PII requires stricter handling guidelines because of the increased risk to an individual if the data are compromised.
Personally Identifiable Information (SPII) Examples
Name
- full name (first, middle, last name)
- maiden name
- mother’s maiden name
- alias
Asset Information
- Internet Protocol (IP)
- Media Access Control (MAC) address
- other host-specific persistent static identifier that consistently links to a particular person or small, well-defined group of people.
Personal Characteristics
- photographic image (especially the face or other distinguishing characteristics)
- x-rays
- fingerprints
- retina scan
- voice signature
- facial geometry
Information Identifying Personally Owned Property
- vehicle registration number (e.g., car, boat, motorcycle, ATV, snowmobile)
- vehicle title number
- vehicle identification number (VIN)
Telephone Numbers
- mobile number
- business number
- personal number
Personal Identification Number (PIN)
Address Information
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- passport number
- driver’s license number
- state identification number
- taxpayer identification number
- patient identification number
- financial account number
- credit or debit card number
- street address
- email address
Information about an individual that is linked or linkable to another piece of PII
- date of birth
- place of birth
- race
- religion
- weight
- activities
- geographical indicators
- employment information
- medical information
- education information
- financial information
- family members
Sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (SPII) Examples
General Data
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- driver’s license or state ID card
- passport number
- DNA profile
- biometric identifiers (x-ray, retinal scan, fingerprints, etc.)
- medical information
- authentication information (passwords and information to re-enable passwords)
- financial information (bank account, credit or debit card, etc.)
- sensitive context where PII data is viewed (queried or reported)
Student Data
- Wisconsin Student Number (WSN)
- attendance
- habitual truancy
- suspension
- expulsion
- dropout
- course-taking
- retention
- test results (DLM, AP, ACT, Forward, ACCESS, etc.)
- primary disability category
- migrant status
- homeless status
- English language proficiency level
- educational environment
- free and reduced lunch eligibility status