What is an example of Personally Identifiable Information (PII)?

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is defined as any data that can be used to identify a specific individual. It includes various types of information, but one of the most recognizable examples is a person's date of birth. This information, when combined with other identifiers, can easily lead to the identification of an individual, making it sensitive in the context of privacy and data protection.

While the other options, such as browser history, username, and IP address, can also be associated with individuals, they do not typically qualify as PII on their own to the same extent as a date of birth. For example, a username might not be unique to one person and could belong to multiple users across different platforms. Browser history reflects online behavior but does not directly identify a person without additional context. An IP address can give a general location or network identity but does not necessarily pinpoint an individual without further information. In contrast, a date of birth is a direct and specific piece of information that is widely recognized and used in legal and formal identification scenarios, making it a clear example of PII.