De-identified data ensure PII can no longer be traced back to an individual. This typically involves the removal or masking of names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and other unique identifiers.
De - identified data can be used
for research,
testing,
analysis,
and other purposes,
as it does not pose the same privacy risks as personally identifiable information.However,
it is important to note that de - identified data can sometimes be re - identified,
especially
if combined with other datasets or sources of information.