What is Personally Identifiable Information (PII)?

• A. Only financial data.
• B. Any information that can be used to identify an individual, such as name, address, or Social Security Number.
• C. Any data that relates to weather conditions.
• D. Information that is non-identifying.

Answer: (B)

PII means any information that can be used to identify an individual, either on its own or when combined with other data. This includes direct identifiers like a person’s name, address, Social Security Number, date of birth, or biometric data, as well as other data that, when linked with additional information, could reveal who someone is. Because of that breadth, PII covers more than just financial data and is not limited to unrelated facts like weather conditions or data that by itself doesn’t identify someone. In the Air Force context, protecting PII is essential to prevent privacy breaches, identity theft, and security risks, so handling personnel, health, and contact information requires careful access controls and safeguards.