International Business Machines Corporation
ATTRIBUTE-BASED QUASI-IDENTIFIER DISCOVERY

Abstract:

A method, system, and computer program product for privacy protection of records based on attribute-based determination of quasi-identifiers within the records is provided. The method receives a first set of records containing a first set of attributes for a set of individuals. The method receives a second set of records for the set of individuals, with the second set of records containing a second set of attributes. A first set of quasi-identifiers, based on the first set of attributes, is accessed for the first set of records. The method determines a set of new attributes of the second set of attributes based on the first set of attributes. A second set of quasi-identifiers is generated based on the first set of quasi-identifiers and the set of new attributes. The method generates an anonymized set of records from the second set of records based on the second set of quasi-identifiers.