This course introduces students to the identifiability of data, record linkage, data profiling data anonymity and privacy protection. This knowledge is timely because society is experiencing exponential growth in the number and variety of person-specific data collected and shared. Students learn to identify and control inferences that can be drawn from such data. In the first part of this course, students learn to be data detectives and exploit information that is publicly available in order to build profiles and identify individuals from seemingly anonymous data. In the second part of the course, students learn new privacy protocols and anonymity protection schemes and then assume the responsibility of producing public-use files for data holders.
Students then attempt to compromise each other's releases.
While reasonable attention is given to financial data, electronic commerce and declassification efforts, medical information is used heavily because the risks and benefits to the individual versus society are clear. The course ends with students attempting to bridge the technical challenges and solutions with effective policies. There is no required textbook for this course. Instead, we will provide course copies and working papers as the course progresses. Handouts will also be available at the course web site.