What is defined as information that can identify an individual, either on its own or when linked with other data?

The concept defined as information that can identify an individual, either on its own or when linked with other data, is referred to as Personally Identifiable Information (PII). PII includes any data that could potentially be used to identify a specific individual, such as names, social security numbers, or email addresses. The importance of this definition lies in safeguarding this type of information, as it is crucial for privacy protection and compliance with regulations such as the GDPR and various data protection laws.

Confidential Information generally pertains to data that should be kept private due to its sensitive nature but is not specifically linked to individual identification. Protected Health Information (PHI) refers specifically to health-related data that contains identifiers related to an individual's health status, health care, or payment for health care, thus it's a subset of PII with a narrower focus. Classified Data encompasses information that is designated as sensitive by the government, requiring specific handling protocols to maintain national security, but does not inherently relate to personal identification.