In public service, more data often promises more insight. But responsible leadership requires knowing when not to collect certain information at all. This essay explores data restraint, informed consent, and the governance decisions that shape public trust over time.

Personally identifiable information (PII) is the data public systems use to recognize people and make decisions about their lives. In civic contexts, it goes far beyond names and numbers—shaping access to care, housing, safety, and opportunity, and carrying both individual and collective histories.