What type of personal data is categorized as "sensitive" by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission?

The classification of sensitive personal data by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission encompasses information that can significantly impact an individual's privacy and security if mishandled. Medical records are specifically considered sensitive due to the private nature of health information and the potential for harm or discrimination if such information were to be disclosed without consent. Similarly, financial information is deemed sensitive as it can lead to substantial financial and personal risks, such as identity theft or fraud.

While the U.S. Federal Trade Commission does recognize that TV-viewing data can be personal, it does not rise to the same level of sensitivity as financial or medical records. TV-viewing habits are generally not subjected to the same stringent protections because they have a lower potential to harm an individual in the case of unauthorized disclosure compared to health or financial data.

Thus, the choice that encompasses the most widely recognized categories of sensitive personal data, as specified by the Federal Trade Commission, would be a broader category rather than focusing solely on one type of data that does not fundamentally represent personal risk to the same extent. This context clarifies why the answer is not the option selected, highlighting the importance of understanding what constitutes sensitive information in the framework of regulatory definitions.