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Data anonymization

Data anonymization is the use of one or more techniques designed to make it impossible to identify a particular individual from stored data related to them. That kind of data bring significant benefits to businesses collecting data since anonymous data is not personal data for the purposes of GDPR.

Anonymous data doesn’t require any additional safeguards to ensure its security. Among other things, this means that, you don’t need to get consent to process it and it can be exported internationally.

In terms of GDPR we can anonymize data such as:

  • login details
  • device IDs
  • IP addresses
  • cookies
  • device type
  • language preference
  • time zones

Example methods of data anonymization:

  • Noise Addition – example: height: 180 cm → height: 320 cm
  • Aggregation – example: Age: 30 → Age: 20-35
  • Substitution – example: : 10120 → ZIP: postcode

To get more details on data anonymization, read the Piwik PRO blog:

  • first party data

    First-party analytics without consent: Your Digital Omnibus compliance guide

    The Digital Omnibus is the European Commission’s simplification initiative to modernize the EU’s digital rulebook and reduce consent fatigue. The framework would enable first-party analytics without consent when specific criteria are met, ending years of uncertainty about the use of legitimate interest for web statistics.

  • University website personalization: First-party data strategies for student recruitment and retention

    University websites receive millions of visits annually from diverse audiences – prospective students, admitted students weighing their options, current undergraduates, graduate students, parents, alumni, and faculty. Yet most institutions serve identical content to all these visitors, missing critical opportunities to engage each audience with relevant information.

Other definitions

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