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Why Anonymized Data Isn't
Ars has a review of recent research, and a summary of the history, in the field of reidentification — identifying people from anonymized data. Paul Ohm's recent paper is an elaboration of what Ohm terms a central reality of data collection: "Data can either be useful or perfectly anonymous but never both." "...in 2000, [researcher Latanya Sweeney] showed that 87 percent of all Americans could be uniquely identified using only three bits of information: ZIP code, birthdate, and sex. ... For almost every person on earth, there is at least one fact about them stored in a computer database that an adversary could use to blackmail, discriminate against, harass, or steal the identity of him or her. I mean more than mere embarrassment or inconvenience; I mean legally cognizable harm. ... Reidentification science disrupts the privacy policy landscape by undermining the faith that we have placed in anonymization."
Great, another Ohm's law to learn.
See!
-- Anonymous Coward
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say
Holy hell forget about that anonymized data crap, I want to learn how she can compress that much data into three bits!
Forget anonymity. I'm better off living in a glass house, so it's easier for me to know when I need to yell "Get off my lawn!"
I just put "No" under sex. I like to tell the truth. Not sure how it helps on the ID end though.
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
I put "please!" and it doesnt seem to help either.
Yes you are. I always put put 90210. Phone number 867-5309. If anyone tries to find me, they're at least going to have that song stuck in their head and recall with disgust the shows they watched in the early 90's. Hopefully that will demoralize them enough to give up.
I would think 90210 is a more common choice for zip code. It's probably the most densely populated area on the planet according to dataminers.
upon the advice of my lawyer, i have no sig at this time
It identifies you as a Slashdotter...?
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.
This makes me think of a probably not unique idea. Most places that ask my my phone number are the same places asking over and over again. Radio Shack, Toys-R-Us, and Sears for example. What would be great is to memorize one of their phone numbers from the phone book and always give them that. Perhaps a number from a different store. Let their telemarketers waste time calling their own stores.
I once gave a gamestop employee my zip as 12345. He say "its ok if you don't want to give it." My reply was the no, I am from Schenectady, NY.
Heh... I told Toys R US that my number was 911 - (something arbitrary) and the store manager in the next row over got pissed that I gave them that number. I say, ask me a stupid question, I'll give you a stupid answer.
And you wonder why you never get laid when you go to a bar.
Usually it's better to wait until you leave the bar.
It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. - Einstein
The only bar I go to is the one my parents built in their basement while I was away at college.
I never pay for drinks, I know the password for the Wi-fi, and it never closes.
Problem is, the only girl who ever shows up is my sister.
And after that, it's to keep a list of everyone who has entered the bar for the history of it's operation. Much easier to identify "troublemakers" when you have a list of people who like to have fun once in a while.
You DO know that in many states, a bartender is legally responsible for anything you do while drunk from the moment you take a drink until you're finally sober, right?