Personal Information (PI)
Plain-language explanation
Under the CCPA, personal information is information that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked with a particular consumer or household.
Why It Matters
Whether information falls within the CCPA definition can determine which privacy duties, rights, notices, contracts, and safeguards apply.
Source Context
This entry is California-specific. Other privacy laws use different terminology and definitions. Personal information, personal data, and PII should not be treated as universally interchangeable terms.
In Practice
The CCPA definition is broad and includes examples and exclusions that should be reviewed when determining whether a particular data element is in scope.