Protecting Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in Web Scraping: Technical Aspects and Industry Standards
Tags: pii, stripe, webstore, security
Published: 2023-06-19 21:11:49




Protecting Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in Web Scraping: Technical Aspects and Industry Standards

When engaging in web scraping activities, it is essential to prioritize the protection of personally identifiable information (PII). PII refers to any information that can be used to identify an individual, such as names, addresses, social security numbers, email addresses, and more. As a responsible scraper, it is crucial to handle PII with the utmost care to comply with industry standards and legal requirements. In this addendum, we will focus on the technical aspects, authoritative sources, and industry standards related to safeguarding PII during web scraping.

Here are some URL sources and reference manuals that provide information on the requirements for an online company to comply with Personally Identifiable Information (PII) standards:

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST):

NIST Special Publication 800-53: Security and Privacy Controls for Federal Information Systems and Organizations - https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/SpecialPublications/NIST.SP.800-53r5.pdf
NIST Special Publication 800-122: Guide to Protecting the Confidentiality of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) - https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/SP/nistspecialpublication800-122.pdf
International Organization for Standardization (ISO):

ISO/IEC 27001:2013 - Information technology — Security techniques — Information security management systems — Requirements - https://www.iso.org/standard/54534.html
ISO/IEC 27018:2019 - Information technology — Security techniques — Code of practice for protection of personally identifiable information (PII) in public clouds acting as PII processors - https://www.iso.org/standard/71698.html
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

Official GDPR Website - https://gdpr.eu/
GDPR Portal - https://www.eugdpr.org/
Text of the GDPR Regulation - https://gdpr-info.eu/
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

Official CCPA Website - https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa
Text of the CCPA Regulation - https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=CIV&division=3.&title=1.81.5.&part=4.&chapter=&article=
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS):

PCI Security Standards Council - https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/
PCI DSS Documentation Library - https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/document_library
Please note that these sources provide valuable information on PII standards and regulations. It is important to consult the official documentation and seek legal advice to ensure accurate interpretation and compliance with the specific requirements applicable to your online company and jurisdiction.


**Anonymize or Aggregate Data:**
To minimize the risk of exposing PII, consider anonymizing or aggregating the data you collect during web scraping. Anonymization involves removing or encrypting any identifying information from the scraped data, ensuring that individuals cannot be directly identified. Aggregation, on the other hand, involves combining data in a way that prevents the identification of specific individuals. By anonymizing or aggregating the data, you can protect the privacy of individuals while still deriving meaningful insights from the collected information.

**Hashing and Encryption:**
When storing and transmitting scraped data that may contain PII, it is crucial to employ robust hashing and encryption techniques. Hashing transforms the data into a fixed-length string of characters, while encryption converts the data into a ciphertext that can only be decrypted with the appropriate key. These techniques help protect sensitive information from unauthorized access and provide an added layer of security for PII.

**Compliance with Data Protection Laws:**
Ensure that your web scraping activities align with relevant data protection laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States. Familiarize yourself with the specific requirements outlined in these regulations, including obtaining consent for data collection, implementing appropriate security measures, and ensuring the lawful processing of PII. Compliance with these laws is vital to protect the privacy rights of individuals and avoid legal consequences.

**Industry Best Practices and Guidelines:**
Stay informed about industry best practices and guidelines related to PII protection in web scraping. Authorities such as the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provide valuable resources and frameworks for data protection. These sources offer technical guidance, risk assessment methodologies, and frameworks to help you ensure the secure handling of PII during web scraping activities.

**Data Minimization and Retention Policies:**
Adopt a data minimization approach by only collecting the necessary information required for your scraping objectives. Avoid scraping and storing excessive PII that is unrelated to your project. Additionally, implement appropriate data retention policies to delete or anonymize the collected data once it is no longer needed. By minimizing the amount of PII collected and establishing data retention policies, you reduce the potential risks associated with storing and managing sensitive information.

It is crucial to emphasize that protecting PII in web scraping goes beyond technical measures. Legal and ethical considerations are equally important. Therefore, it is advisable to consult with legal experts to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations governing data privacy and protection.

Remember, safeguarding PII not only protects individuals' privacy but also helps maintain trust in the web scraping community and upholds industry standards. By following authoritative sources, industry guidelines, and implementing robust technical measures, you can demonstrate your commitment to responsible PII handling in web scraping activities.

Protect PII, respect privacy, and contribute to a safer and more trustworthy web scraping environment.

Sources:

Here are some reference URLs for industry authoritative standards related to data protection in the United States, California, and the European Union:

United States:

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - Privacy Framework: https://www.nist.gov/privacy-framework
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - Protecting Personal Information: A Guide for Business: https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/protecting-personal-information-guide-business
Center for Internet Security (CIS) - Controls for Effective Cyber Defense: https://www.cisecurity.org/controls/
California:

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA): https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa
California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA): https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/cpra
California Office of the Attorney General - CCPA FAQs: https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa/facts
European Union:

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): https://gdpr.eu/
European Data Protection Board (EDPB): https://edpb.europa.eu/
Data Protection Commission (DPC) - Ireland: https://www.dataprotection.ie/
Please note that these references provide valuable information regarding data protection standards and regulations. It is always recommended to consult the official documentation and seek legal advice to ensure accurate interpretation and compliance with the specific requirements in your jurisdiction.