Security & Privacy
Anonymization
Changing information so the people it concerns can no longer be identified in the relevant circumstances.
Example
An organization removes and modifies identifying detail before releasing statistics.
Why people use it
It aims to make information useful without identifying the people behind it.
What you'll hear
“Removing names may not be enough.”
What this means for you
Assess re-identification risk rather than relying only on deleted direct identifiers.
Can you control it?
Sometimes
Sometimes. Your choices depend on the tool and your access. The settings available to an everyday user may differ from those available to the people running it.
Common questions
- Is removing names always enough to anonymize data?
- No. Other details or linked collections of information can permit identification.
- Can separate details identify someone when combined?
- Yes. A combination such as location, age and dates can sometimes point to one person.
- Is replacing a name with a code the same thing?
- Not necessarily. If the code can be linked back to the person, identification may still be possible.