Which of the following is considered a sensitive customer data element?

The Social Security Number (SSN) is considered a sensitive customer data element because it is a unique identifier issued to individuals by the government that can lead to identity theft if it falls into the wrong hands. An SSN is often used to verify a person’s identity in various financial and legal contexts, making it a key target for malicious actors seeking to commit fraud or engage in identity theft.

When other customer data elements like an email address or a phone number may be used for communication or marketing purposes, they do not have the same level of sensitivity and direct implications for identity verification and security. Similarly, while a date of birth can be sensitive, especially in conjunction with other identifying information, it lacks the unique properties that make an SSN particularly critical for safeguarding privacy and protecting against identity theft.