Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • 2012
  • Article
  • Proceedings of the Annual International Conference on Privacy, Security, and Trust

Exploring Re-Identification Risks in Public Domains

By: Aditi Ramachandran, Lisa Singh, Edward Porter and Frank Nagle
  • Format:Print
ShareBar

Abstract

While re-identification of sensitive data has been studied extensively, with the emergence of online social networks and the popularity of digital communications, the ability to use public data for re-identification has increased. This work begins by presenting two different cases studies for sensitive data reidentification. We conclude that targeted re-identification using traditional variables is not only possible, but fairly straightforward given the large amount of public data available. However, our first case study also indicates that large-scale re-identification is less likely. We then consider methods for agencies such as the Census Bureau to identify variables that cause individuals to be vulnerable without testing all combinations of variables. We show the effectiveness of different strategies on a Census Bureau data set and on a synthetic data set.

Keywords

Safety; Analytics and Data Science; Social and Collaborative Networks

Citation

Ramachandran, Aditi, Lisa Singh, Edward Porter, and Frank Nagle. "Exploring Re-Identification Risks in Public Domains." Proceedings of the Annual International Conference on Privacy, Security, and Trust (2012).

About The Author

Frank Nagle

Strategy
→More Publications

More from the Authors

    • January 2025
    • Faculty Research

    AGENTS.inc: Pathways to Growth at an AI Startup

    By: Frank Nagle and Susan Pinckney
    • November 2024
    • Faculty Research

    FedEx Cyberattack (B): Reflections and Lessons

    By: Hise Gibson, Frank Nagle, Alicia Dadlani and Martha Hostetter
    • November 2024
    • Faculty Research

    FedEx Cyberattack (A): Navigating the NotPetya Storm

    By: Hise Gibson, Frank Nagle, Alicia Dadlani and Martha Hostetter
More from the Authors
  • AGENTS.inc: Pathways to Growth at an AI Startup By: Frank Nagle and Susan Pinckney
  • FedEx Cyberattack (B): Reflections and Lessons By: Hise Gibson, Frank Nagle, Alicia Dadlani and Martha Hostetter
  • FedEx Cyberattack (A): Navigating the NotPetya Storm By: Hise Gibson, Frank Nagle, Alicia Dadlani and Martha Hostetter
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College.