What does access refer to in the context of personal information held by an organization?

In the context of personal information held by an organization, access signifies the ability of individuals to view their personal data that is stored by that organization and may also include the capacity to update or correct that information. This access principle is foundational to privacy laws and regulations, including the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), which empower individuals by ensuring they can see what data is held about them and manage their personal data effectively.

Access is crucial for transparency, allowing individuals to understand and verify the accuracy of their information, which supports their privacy rights. Furthermore, the ability to update personal information ensures that individuals can maintain control over their data and rectify any inaccuracies that may exist, fostering trust between individuals and organizations.

The other options do not align with the principle of access as it is typically understood in privacy contexts. Selling personal information, completely deleting it, or restricting all access serves different purposes within data management but do not encapsulate the essence of what it means to have access to personal information.