What Is Sensitive Personal Information?

As technology grows, so does the way companies collect and use our personal data. Some of this data is more sensitive and needs extra protection because, if misused, it could lead to serious problems like identity theft or discrimination.

That’s why laws around the world have special rules for sensitive personal information (SPI), a type of personal data that is more private and can reveal important details about who you are.

Most privacy laws categorize information into two types:

1. Personal Information and
2. Sensitive Personal Information

Personal information refers to any data that can be used to directly or indirectly identify an individual or household.

Examples of PI include:

• Full name
• Home address
• Email or phone number
• IP address
• Date of birth
• Zip code

This kind of personal data is widely collected but poses less risk if compromised than sensitive personal information.

Sensitive personal information is a special type of personal data that is more private and could cause serious harm if exposed.

Examples of SPI include:​

• Racial or ethnic origin​
• Political opinions ​
• Religious or philosophical beliefs​
• Trade union membership​
• Genetic or biometric data ​
• Health-related information ​
• Sexual orientation​
• Financial account details
• Criminal records
• Government-issued identification numbers (e.g., Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers)​

Given the potential risks associated with SPI, various privacy laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), and others, impose strict rules on its collection, processing, and storage.

The main difference is how harmful it can be if leaked.

• Regular personal info might cause minor inconvenience.
• But SPI could lead to identity theft, harassment, or discrimination.

That’s why businesses must,

• Get clear consent before collecting SPI
• Use stronger security like encryption
• Limit how they use or store SPI

When handling sensitive personal information, it’s not enough to just follow general privacy rules. Several privacy laws across the globe offer very specific guidance on how this type of data should be collected, stored, and processed. Let’s take a look at how different laws define sensitive information and what they require for compliance.

Under the GDPR, sensitive personal information falls under a “special category” of personal data. This includes details like

• Racial or ethnic background
• Political beliefs
• Religion or philosophical views
• Trade union membership
• Genetic and biometric data
• Health information
• Sexual orientation and activity

To collect SPI, you need a strong reason, like clear user consent or to protect someone’s life.
You must also use protections like encryption and explain your practices in your privacy policy.

California’s privacy laws got a significant upgrade with the CPRA (which amended the earlier CCPA). The law now has a dedicated category for sensitive personal information (SPI), which includes:

• Social Security numbers and ID cards
• Bank and login info
• Precise location
• Religious or union membership
• Health, sexual orientation
• Private communications

California residents can now:

• Tell businesses not to sell or share their SPI
• Limit how businesses use their SPI

Websites must also respect Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals from browsers.

The Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act distinguishes between “personal data” and “sensitive data.” The latter includes

• Racial or ethnic origin
• Religious beliefs
• Health or mental health status
• Sexual orientation
• Citizenship or immigration data
• Biometric/genetic data
• Children’s information
• Precise geolocation

Businesses need explicit, informed opt-in consent before handling this type of data.

No matter where your users are, handling sensitive personal information means following extra steps, whether it’s getting clear consent, adding stricter security, or offering more user rights. Knowing the legal definitions and obligations under each law helps you avoid penalties and build trust with your users.

Here’s a quick comparison of how major privacy laws define sensitive personal information.

Still unsure what counts as sensitive? These examples will help clarify.
To clarify what counts as SPI, here are two lists:

• Political or religious beliefs
• Health and medical details
• Sexual identity or behavior
• Biometric or genetic data
• Union membership
• Financial credentials
• Government-issued IDs
• Data from children
• Precise geolocation

• Full name
• Work email address
• Zip code alone
• Device IDs or cookies
• Public records

Note: Combining identifiers like a name + account number can elevate standard personal data to sensitive personal information.

SPI reveals the deepest parts of your life, like your beliefs, health, or finances. If mishandled, it can:

• Lead to identity theft
• Cause harassment or discrimination
• Result in emotional distress
• Damage reputations or employment opportunities
• Violate someone’s fundamental rights

If your company collects or processes SPI, you should:

1. Understand the privacy laws that apply (like GDPR or CPRA)
2. Clearly tell users what you’re collecting and why
3. Only collect what’s absolutely necessary
4. Use strong protection tools like encryption
5. Give users control – let them access, update, or delete their data

You can use tools like,

• DSR (Data Subject Request) Management
• Cookie Compliance Banners
• Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs)
• Consent Management Solution

Sensitive personal information isn’t just data; it reflects a person’s private life, health, and beliefs. Mishandling it can do real harm.

That’s why privacy laws demand,

• Clear consent
• Strong security
• Transparency
• User rights

When your business protects this data well, you don’t just follow the law; you earn trust.

At Mandatly, we make privacy compliance simple and effective.
Explore our easy-to-use tools to strengthen your privacy program:

• Data Subject Request (DSR)
• Cookie Compliance Solution
• Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) Tool

Start your privacy journey today.
Let’s build a safer, more compliant experience for your users!