Anonymized data is a type of data that has been processed to remove any personally identifiable information (PII) or personal data. Such data is often used in research, analytics, and other data-driven activities, as well as for compliance with privacy regulations.

According to GDPR, anonymized data has been altered in such a way that it can’t be used to identify a specific person. Since anonymized data can’t be restored, it isn’t considered personal data under GDPR. This means it is exempt from GDPR.

Some examples of compliant data anonymization methods include:

  • Randomization:





    • Noise addition – Where personal identifiers are expressed imprecisely, for instance: height: 180 cm → height: 320 cm





    • Substitution – Where personal identifiers are shuffled within a table or replaced with random values, for instance: ZIP: 10120 → ZIP: postcode






  • Generalization:





    • Aggregation – Where personal identifiers are generalized into a range or group, for instance: age: 30 → age: 20-35






Removing any identifiable information from a dataset allows for meaningful analysis without compromising the privacy of individuals.

Examples of use cases for anonymized data include:

  • Measuring the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.
  • Analyzing the behavior of website or mobile app users.
  • Analyzing trends and patterns.

Further reading:


  • A review of HIPAA-compliant analytics platforms

    As a healthcare organization subject to HIPAA, you’re walking a fine line when trying to improve the patient experience and ensure your activities are HIPAA-compliant. Vendors have been adjusting to the shifting privacy-oriented analytics landscape and their clients’ expectations. Many of them change their offers accordingly. At the same time, the dominant analytics vendors are…

  • Piwik PRO expands global hosting options with new data center in the UAE

    Piwik PRO remains committed to delivering flexible, secure, and regionally focused hosting solutions for businesses around the world. We’re pleased to announce the launch of our new data center in the UAE North, hosted on Microsoft Azure. This latest addition complements our existing location in Hong Kong, expanding our global hosting footprint and offering organizations…