'Anonymized Data' Is A Gibberish Term, And Rampant Location Data Sales Is Still A Problem
The article argues that the widespread industry claim of "anonymizing" personal data is fundamentally misleading. Despite the removal of direct identifiers like social security numbers, location data remains highly re-identifiable when combined with other datasets. Studies consistently show that with minimal effort, anyone with access to supplementary information can trace aggregated location traces back to specific individuals, rendering standard anonymization practices ineffective and dangerously illusory. This issue is particularly critical in the context of location data, which is harvested by apps and wireless providers, then traded through a opaque chain of brokers. Companies like Veraset operate without transparency regarding their data sources, relying on this lack of public scrutiny to maintain their business models. The resulting lack of user control and disclosure means that everyday app usage often unknowingly opts users into having their movements sold on the open market, facilitating potential abuse by stalkers or law enforcement without adequate accountability. This situation is vital to the open data conversation because it highlights the dangers of assuming released datasets are safe simply because they are stripped of obvious personal identifiers. It underscores the urgent need for robust open data standards that prioritize de-identification techniques capable of preventing re-identification, rather than relying on superficial privacy policies. Without stronger regulatory frameworks and technical safeguards, the open sharing of such sensitive data risks enabling widespread surveillance and privacy violations, proving that true openness requires more than just releasing data; it requires releasing data responsibly.
Source: techdirt.comPublished on 2023-08-17