What is considered confidential information?

Confidential information is typically defined as any data that could potentially compromise an individual's privacy or an organization's competitive advantage if disclosed unexpectedly. The identification of individuals through specific data points, such as names, addresses, social security numbers, or any unique identifiers, falls under this category. This type of information is considered sensitive and is often legally protected to ensure the individual's privacy remains intact.

Publicly available statistics, while they may provide valuable insights, do not fall under confidential information since they are accessible to everyone and do not involve private data. Information involving company profits can also be sensitive, but it may not necessarily identify individuals or provide details that compromise privacy. General employee performance reviews, while they can contain confidential assessments, typically do not apply to the broader definition concerning the identification of individuals, which underscores why identifying personal data as confidential is paramount.