Which statement best describes non-personal information (non-PII)?

Which statement best describes non-personal information (non-PII)?

• A. Information that can be used on its own to identify a person.
• B. Data that cannot be directly associated with a specific individual. However, multiple pieces of non-PII can sometimes identify someone.
• C. Small text files websites place on a user's computer.
• D. Explicit consent required for data collection.

Answer: (B)

Non-personal information refers to data that can’t identify an individual on its own. It describes details that are about a group, an activity, or a system rather than a person. The important idea is that this data by itself isn’t linked to a specific person, but if you combine several non-personal data points, you can sometimes deduce who someone is. For example, overall site traffic numbers, device types, or general geographic trends don’t name anyone, but mixing several clues (like time, location, and behavior) can sometimes point to a particular individual. That’s why the statement that best describes non-PII is that the data can’t be directly associated with a specific individual, though multiple pieces can sometimes identify someone. Compared to the other options: information that can identify a person on its own is PII, not non-PII. Small text files websites place on a user’s computer are cookies and related data, which are not a definition of non-PII. Explicit consent required for data collection relates to privacy practices, not the definition of non-PII itself.

Non-personal information refers to data that can’t identify an individual on its own. It describes details that are about a group, an activity, or a system rather than a person. The important idea is that this data by itself isn’t linked to a specific person, but if you combine several non-personal data points, you can sometimes deduce who someone is. For example, overall site traffic numbers, device types, or general geographic trends don’t name anyone, but mixing several clues (like time, location, and behavior) can sometimes point to a particular individual. That’s why the statement that best describes non-PII is that the data can’t be directly associated with a specific individual, though multiple pieces can sometimes identify someone.

Compared to the other options: information that can identify a person on its own is PII, not non-PII. Small text files websites place on a user’s computer are cookies and related data, which are not a definition of non-PII. Explicit consent required for data collection relates to privacy practices, not the definition of non-PII itself.