A critical appraisal of the Article 29 Working Party Opinion 05/2014 on data anonymization techniques

Abstract

The Article 29 Working Party opinion 05/2014, issued on 10 April 2014 on data anonymization techniques, has provided clarification and important interpretation guidance on some topics, but did not advance understanding with some other critical topics. The key recommendations found in the Opinion need to be appraised from a practical standpoint to determine whether they are consistent with current best practice in the disclosure control community, can be practically implemented, and continue to ensure that privacy is protected in a defensible way. We provide a broader perspective on the issues raised in the Opinion to help interpret them in a practical manner which will facilitate the disclosure of high-quality data while continuing to safeguard the privacy of EU citizens.