What is the difference between anonymization and pseudonymization?

What is the difference between anonymization and pseudonymization?

Anonymization removes all personally identifiable information, making it impossible to identify individuals. Pseudonymization replaces identifiable information with pseudonyms, allowing for re-identification under certain conditions.

Can you give me examples of when to use each method?

Sure! Use anonymization when you want to completely protect user identities, like in research. Use pseudonymization when you need to retain some data for analysis but still want to protect identities, like in healthcare.

Are there any legal implications for using these methods?

Yes, different regulations like GDPR have specific requirements for both methods. Anonymized data is not considered personal data, while pseudonymized data still falls under data protection laws.

Which method is considered safer?

Anonymization is generally considered safer since it irreversibly removes identifiers. However, pseudonymization can be safer in contexts where re-identification is controlled and necessary.