WorldAugust 12, 2026
deidentification
dee-eye-DEN-tuh-fuh-KAY-shun
Definition
The process of removing or modifying personal identifiers from a dataset so that the remaining data cannot easily be linked to a specific individual.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'de-' (away from) and 'identitas' (identity), combined with the suffix '-fication' (the act of making). It emerged in the late 20th century in the fields of data privacy and medical informatics.
In the news
The article uses the term to explain why standard privacy protections like removing names are insufficient for national security, as adversaries can still reconstruct sensitive life patterns from the remaining data.
Closing the Front Door: The Case for DOJ’s Bulk Data Security Program
Read the full article ↗Lawfare