Which of the following is an example of personally identifiable information?

The selection of Social Security numbers as an example of personally identifiable information (PII) is accurate because PII encompasses any information that can be used to identify an individual uniquely. Social Security numbers are specific to each individual and used primarily for identification purposes by government agencies and financial institutions. They can reveal a person's identity as well as be used to access sensitive personal data, such as financial records and employment history. Therefore, they are a prime example of PII, as they provide a direct link to an individual’s identity.

In contrast, phone book listings, while they can contain identifiable information, are generally considered less sensitive as they usually include only names and addresses, which are often publicly accessible. Government regulations and public financial statements may contain valuable information but do not specifically identify an individual; instead, they pertain more to organizations or entities rather than to PII about a private individual.