And Yet Another 'Anonymous' Dataset Proves To Be Not Anonymous
from the how-it-goes dept
For years, we've been pointing out that there's really no such thing as an anonymized dataset. There's almost always ways to associate data back to people. We've seen it happen over and over again as companies claim they're releasing an anonymous dataset, only to discover later that it's not so difficult to re-nomynize it. In fact, there was even a recent paper on how to re-identify people based on an anonymous data set. So perhaps it should come as no surprise that yet another "anonymous dataset" has been shown not to be very anonymous. This time, it's about GPS data that was supposed to be scrubbed of identifying info, but some researchers have found that it's not hard to put that data back together, knowing that the two main places people go are home and their office. With that info, you could pretty easily uniquely identify people. Among the many reasons why this could be important? All those silly efforts by politicians to force drivers to install GPS devices in order to tax their driving habits. They always insist the data won't be used for tracking, but even if they're well intentioned, you can see how the data can be abused.
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Filed Under: anonymity, anonymous dataset, gps
Reader Comments
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Anonymity?
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Anon.
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You can walk around without your tech tools on your belt, without your mini networking system in your car, and nobody will know where you are. You can disable your GPS tracking, and nobody will know where you are.
If you provide enough datapoints for any single user, it is very likely you can figure out who they are if you are going to put the effort in. It doesn't matter how obscured the data is, you can end up with start and end points. That isn't really going to change. The only way to eliminate it would be to strictly enforce a zero data retention policy, which in many cases would fail to meet up with the needs of companies to prove their clients usages or whatever purpose they have.
You can opt out individually by NOT using the technology that you feel leads to the violations. You have the choice, individual responsiblity is a great thing.
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Re:
That does not mean that the government or anyone else has automatically been given any rights to my info. The two are not equal.
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What are you trying to say? I can walk rather than drive?
One of the points being made is that the gvmt thinks GPS in all vehicles is a good idea for solving their gasoline tax problem. This is a horrible idea and will not work. In addition, the "zero retention policy" is a joke.
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Re: Anon.
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Re: Re: Anon.
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The simplest way to do this is the best as usual. Just require the car to be present to renew the tags and check the millage. If the vehicle is not presented it would have a mileage tax of 35000mi.
I'm not for this but I do like zero retention but that will not happen.
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you can install a tracking device
Thankfully I can do something about this, I used a bike for years, still own one, and while I ride for plesure, I have no problem riding for work.
Sadly new cars will most likly have the tracker come pree installed with out telling the owner, and for a while people will hunt down cars that dont have the tracker. Then im sure there will be a law passed that dosent let me drive with out the tracker. Worse yet removing the device may turn on the check engin light which means I cant get the car safty checked because the tracking device was removed. I think the same thing already happens with black boxes put in cars that record acidents and we know those cant be wrong (100 MPH in a 30 zone with no physical evidence to say your going 100mph?)
ALL HAIL THE DECAYING URANIUM!
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Re: Re: Privacy
BTW - Nice guy, but he doesn't get free beer at my house.
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Re: Anon.
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Re: Re: Anon.
Or the number of grains of sand that land in a bucket that you threw a handful of sand at
Or turn the analog signal from a baby crying into a number
Lots of ways to create truly random numbers
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Additional Information
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lies...
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manditory GPS in cars is an abuse of power.
The government wanting to put tracking devices in everyones car would be expensive and very intrusive. It would basically be just like allowing a government agent to accompany you on every trip you make. They don't trust us and they want to monitor all of our activity. It is as simple as that.
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And if you don't like it, you can also opt out by moving to another country. A lot of people just like to complain but they won't take individual responsibility and leave. America would be a better place if all the complainers left.
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Re: Re:
And anyone has the right to retain their privacy simply by choosing to live like the Amish. It is a free choice, accept technology and your gov't tracking you, or drive your horse to work. You see, that's freedom, baby.
Our civic duty is to sit on our couch and watch TV, and not get in the way of our leaders who know better.
*wake up now*
Dude!! WTF? Individual responsibility is something you define as leaving the country? America would be a better place if the complainers left? Yeah, I guess so, if you like slaves, don't think women should vote, like paying taxes to the British monarchy and such. Rabble-rousers like MLK sure screwed this place up.
Could you actually have been serious? I can't believe anyone who benefitted from a US public education could be so misguided.
If Americans fail their civic duty in any way, it is in NOT complaining enough, not getting involved enough, and not getting informed enough. Goverment is not something you set in 1776 and leave on cruise control.
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"benefitted from a US public education could be so misguided"
read:
http://johntaylorgatto.com
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Re: Re: Re:
A bunch of old white men sitting around thousands of miles away, banging gavels and writing down rules means nothing to me.
The only reason anyone pays any attention to them is because they've built a huge hierarchy of low-IQers to do violence on their behalf.
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