Sensitive personal information definition
Sensitive personal information is a legal term for data that requires special handling by organizations — otherwise, accessing or misusing these details could lead to significant personal harm. Sensitive personal information covers a more narrow subset of data within the broader category of sensitive information.
Sensitive personal information includes personally-identifiable data such as social security numbers, financial account details, medical history, and ethnic background, but in some jurisdictions it also encompasses details about an individual’s religious beliefs, sexual orientation, and political opinions.
See also: sensitive information, personally identifiable information, digital identity
Regulation of sensitive personal information
Because of the potential for significant consequences, many regions have implemented laws outlining how sensitive personal information must be treated. For example, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States, have specific provisions for the handling of sensitive personal data, outlining the rights of individuals to protect their privacy.
Often, these regulations require organizations to obtain explicit user consent before collecting or sharing sensitive personal information, as well as implement strong data protection measures (like encryption and anonymization).
Consequences of leaking sensitive personal information
- Identity theft
- Fraud
- Unauthorized transactions
- Discrimination
- Harassment
- Privacy violations
- Emotional distress
