Covered California Certified Enroller Practice Exam

Which of the following can be classified as PII?

1. Current weather conditions

2. Mother's maiden name

3. Favorite movie

4. Preferred language

The correct answer is: Mother's maiden name

Personal Identifiable Information (PII) refers to any information that can be used to identify an individual. The correct choice is significant because a mother's maiden name is a commonly used piece of information for security questions and identity verification processes. It is directly tied to an individual's identity and can be used to gain access to personal accounts or information. In contrast, current weather conditions, favorite movies, and preferred language do not uniquely identify an individual and are more general in nature. They may provide insight into preferences or location, but they do not contain the same level of personal data tied to a specific person as a mother's maiden name. This distinction highlights why the mother's maiden name is classified as PII, while the other options do not meet the criteria for being identifiable information about an individual.