Which Data Qualifies as Personally Identifiable Information (PII)?

Which of the following pieces of data are examples of PII?

  1. Medical record and test result values
  2. IP address and email address
  3. Name and year of birth Source Reference Answer
  4. X-ray and blood type

Community Votes

C
75%
B
25%

75% of anonymous learners picked answer C. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.

Community Insight

Tests the core definition of PII versus PHI, with the common trap being the misclassification of health records or digital identifiers as primary PII examples.

This question tests your ability to distinguish Personally Identifiable Information (PII) from Protected Health Information (PHI) and technical metadata. The community consensus confirms that direct biographical identifiers like name and birth year are the definitive PII examples expected in certification exams.

Option B is frequently selected because modern privacy regulations increasingly treat IP addresses and emails as personal data, but exam questions prioritize unambiguous, direct biographical identifiers over contextual or indirect technical metadata.

Community Discussion (4 comments)

ducko 👍 1 Selected: C
A and D are both PHI not PII B and C could both be considered PII, but C is the more correct answer.
BlueMan93 👍 1 Selected: B
B and C are considered PII. C is the choice that jumps out more, but B could be a possibility. You can connect an individua to an email address and an IP address.
Therealjosh 👍 1 Selected: C
PII stands for Personally Identifiable Information, which refers to any data that could potentially identify a specific individual. Examples of PII include: C. Name and year of birth Both the name and year of birth are pieces of information that can be used, either separately or together, to identify a specific individual.
Sulei3331 👍 1 Selected: C
C NAME AND YEAR OF BIRTH

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Expert Analysis

Why the Answer Is Correct

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) refers to any data that can be used on its own or in combination with other information to identify, contact, or locate a single person. Direct identifiers such as a full name and year of birth are universally recognized as foundational PII elements across compliance frameworks and certification exams. These data points directly map to an individual without requiring additional context or cross-referencing.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

Options A and D describe Protected Health Information (PHI), which falls under HIPAA rather than standard PII classifications. While option B contains data that can be linked to an individual, IP addresses and email addresses are often categorized as indirect identifiers or technical metadata, making them less definitive than explicit biographical data in exam scenarios. CompTIA prioritizes clear-cut, traditional identifiers when distinguishing PII from other data types.

Community Comment Notes

Several candidates noted the overlap between options B and C, correctly pointing out that modern privacy standards increasingly classify digital identifiers as personal data. However, comment [1] accurately clarifies that medical records belong to PHI, not PII, reinforcing the importance of regulatory boundaries. Comment [3] provides a solid textbook definition that aligns perfectly with the expected exam rationale, emphasizing direct identifiability.

Official Reference

Exam Strategy

Focus on memorizing the strict regulatory distinctions between PII (biographical data), PHI (health records), and PCI (payment card details). When faced with overlapping options, always select the most direct, non-contextual identifier first, as certification exams favor unambiguous definitions over evolving legal interpretations.

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