Which of the following details how PII is collected?

The collection of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is primarily driven by the specific needs of an organization. Organizations must identify what data is necessary for their operations, whether for service delivery, customer engagement, compliance with regulations, or other purposes. This tailored approach ensures that they gather only the information required to achieve their objectives, while also maintaining respect for individual privacy and data protection standards.

For instance, a company might collect PII during the registration process for a service, aiming to enhance user experience or ensure compliance with legal requirements. This practice also emphasizes that data collection should be purposeful and relevant, reflecting the organization’s structured approach to managing customer information responsibly.

The other provided options do not accurately capture the comprehensive nature of PII collection practices. PII is not solely collected for legal reasons, nor is it restricted to third-party vendors. Many organizations actively gather PII directly from individuals through various channels. Asserting that PII is never collected contradicts the standard practices of most businesses that require some level of data collection to function effectively.