Short Answer 
The smartphone brand and model is not considered Personally Identifiable Information (PII) as it does not uniquely identify an individual, unlike other options like healthcare payments, fingerprint records, and mother’s maiden name, which can directly connect to a person’s identity. Understanding what constitutes PII is essential for privacy considerations.
Step 1: Understand PII
Personally Identifiable Information (PII) refers to data that can be used to identify a specific individual. This data can be sensitive and varies significantly in how directly it connects to someone’s identity. Understanding what constitutes PII is crucial in identifying which information types impact privacy.
Step 2: Analyze the Options
When evaluating the different options given, it is important to assess how each piece of information relates to individual identity. Consider the following items:
- Smartphone brand and model: While this may provide insights into preferences, it is not unique to an individual.
- Payment for healthcare: This is sensitive health information, making it a clear example of PII.
- Fingerprint records: Unique to every individual, these are strong identifiers and classified as PII.
- Mother’s maiden name: Commonly used as a security question, it can also uniquely identify someone.
Step 3: Conclude the Analysis
After assessing the options based on their ability to identify individuals, it becomes evident that the smartphone brand and model does not qualify as PII. In contrast, other items like healthcare payments, fingerprint records, and mother’s maiden name directly link to an individual’s identity. This understanding helps delineate data that affects personal privacy.