One key method for ensuring privacy while processing large amounts of data is de-identification. De-identified data refers to data through which a link to a particular individual cannot be established. This often involves “scrubbing” the identifiable elements of personal data, making it “safe” in privacy terms while attempting to retain its commercial and scientific value.
In the era of big data, the debate over the definition of personal information, de-identification and re-identification has never been more important. Privacy regimes often rely on data being considered Personal in order to require the application of privacy rights and protections. Data that is anonymous is considered free of privacy risk and available for public use.
Yet much data that is collected and used exists somewhere on a spectrum between these stages. FPF’s De-ID Project has examined practical frameworks for applying privacy restrictions to data based on the nature of data that is collected, the risks of de-identification, and the additional legal and administrative protections that may be applied.
Twelve Privacy Investments for Your Company for a Stronger 2025
FPF has put together a list of Twelve Privacy Investments for Your Company for a Stronger 2025 that reflects on new perspectives on the work that privacy teams do at their organizations. We hope there is something here that’s useful where you work, and we’d love to hear other ideas and feedback. Privacy Investments for Your […]
The North Star State Joins the State Privacy Law Constellation
On May 19, 2024, the Minnesota Legislature passed HF 4757, an omnibus budget bill that includes the Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act (MNCDPA). The bill now heads to Governor Walz for signature. Developed by State Representative Steve Elkins over nearly five years and multiple legislative sessions, the MNCDPA is among the strongest iterations of the […]
New Report Explores Privacy Implications of Driver Safety Systems
Report Offers Recommendations for Organizations Developing, Implementing, and Regulating Technologies Today, the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) is releasing a new report explaining how safeguarding driver privacy and data protection will be critical to ensuring widespread acceptance of new safety technology in vehicles. This report comes as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is […]
FPF at CPDP 2022: Panels and Side Events
As the annual Computers, Privacy and Data Protection (CPDP) conference took place in Brussels between May 23 and 25, several Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) staff took part in different panels and events organized by FPF or other organizations before and during the conference. In this blogpost, we provide an overview of such events, with […]
FPF Launches Infographics in Chinese
As FPF’s work expands to include an international audience, we are pleased to relaunch FPF’s popular infographics in various languages. Because conversations around data protection have become more global, the need for high-quality information and new forms of communication in different languages continues to increase. The infographics translation project aims to help FPF provide a […]
FPF in 2021: Delivering Privacy Insights & Expert Analysis
With the last days of 2021 upon us, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on this exciting year that saw FPF expand its presence both domestically and around the globe, while producing engaging events, thought-provoking analysis, and insightful reports with real-world impact. Growing Global Expertise The scope of FPF’s international work continued to […]
UPDATE: China’s Car Privacy and Security Regulation is Effective on October 1, 2021
On August 20, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) released an updated regulation on car privacy and data security that comes into force on October 1, 2021.
FPF and Leading Health & Equity Organizations Issue Principles for Privacy & Equity in Digital Contact Tracing Technologies
With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, FPF engaged leaders within the privacy and equity communities to develop actionable guiding principles and a framework to help bolster the responsible implementation of digital contact tracing technologies (DCTT). Today, seven privacy, civil rights, and health equity organizations signed on to these guiding principles for organizations implementing […]
FPF Issues Award for Research Data Stewardship to Stanford Medicine & Empatica, Google & Its Academic Partners
WASHINGTON, DC (June 29, 2021) – The second-annual FPF Award for Research Data Stewardship honors two teams of researchers and corporate partners for their commitment to privacy and ethical uses of data in their efforts to research aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. One team is a collaboration between Stanford Medicine researchers led by Tejaswini Mishra, PhD, Professor […]
Google: COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports
Google has been recognized with the second-annual FPF Award for Research Data Stewardship for its work to produce, aggregate, anonymize, and share data on community movement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Google’s Community Mobility Reports go through a robust anonymization process that employs differential privacy techniques to ensure that personal data, including an individual’s location, movement, […]