'Anonymized Data' Is A Gibberish Term, And Rampant Location Data Sales Is Still A Problem
The article argues that the widespread industry claim of data "anonymization" is fundamentally flawed, particularly regarding sensitive user location information. Experts demonstrate that location traces reveal intimate details of daily life, making it relatively easy to re-identify individuals by correlating this data with other available sources. Consequently, treating such data as anonymous provides a false sense of security for consumers and regulators. This deception is sustained by a largely opaque data brokerage ecosystem that operates with minimal transparency or user consent. Companies like Veraset continue to collect and trade massive volumes of location records, often hiding their sourcing methods to avoid public backlash. Despite previous scandals and limited legislative attempts to impose stricter controls, powerful lobbying efforts have stalled meaningful federal privacy reform, allowing businesses to maintain their current non-transparent practices. This situation is highly relevant to open data discussions because it highlights the critical distinction between simply releasing data and ensuring it does not infringe on personal privacy. It serves as a stark warning that without rigorous de-identification standards and accountability, the open exchange of information can facilitate exploitation rather than innovation. The persistence of these abuses underscores the urgent need for robust privacy frameworks that prevent the misuse of supposedly anonymized datasets.
Source: techdirt.comPublished on 2023-11-16
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