Cloud Privacy Controls via Double-Encrypted Envelope Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cloud-based privacy controls face challenges in securely managing data access and revocation, particularly in preventing unintended data exposure due to privilege escalation or software bugs.
Innovation Solution
A multi-modal enrollment protocol that combines proximity channels and cloud service providers to securely establish control keys, ensuring that data access is managed according to user-defined privacy preferences and preventing unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If cloud service providers manage data access through centralized access policies, then data access management becomes streamlined and automated, but the risk of privilege escalation and unintended data exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data access control system into multiple independent components: local device controls, cloud-based policies, and cryptographic key management. Each component operates semi-independently, so a compromise in one does not automatically compromise the entire system. The access control architecture divides responsibilities between data producers, data consumers, and cloud service providers, preventing single-point failures and privilege escalation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cryptographic intermediaries (key management services, digital signatures, and encrypted data containers) that mediate between cloud access policies and actual data access. These cryptographic layers act as trusted intermediaries that verify and enforce access controls without requiring the cloud service provider to have direct access to sensitive data, thereby preventing unintended exposure while maintaining automated policy enforcement.
2Ease of operation
If user-defined privacy preferences are enforced through cloud-based policies, then user control over data is improved, but the complexity of managing and enforcing these policies increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by requiring users to define their privacy preferences and access policies in advance, before any data sharing occurs. The system pre-configures cryptographic keys, establishes access control rules, and creates encrypted data containers with embedded policy information. This upfront configuration simplifies ongoing operations, as the system automatically enforces pre-established rules without requiring complex real-time decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service through automated policy enforcement mechanisms that operate without continuous human intervention. Once users define their privacy preferences, the system automatically manages key distribution, enforces access controls, and revokes permissions when conditions change. This automation reduces the operational burden on users while maintaining strong privacy protections, making the system both user-friendly and complex enough to handle sophisticated access control scenarios.
3Loss of information
If data minimization techniques are used to improve privacy, then the amount of exposed data is reduced, but the ability to deliver comprehensive user experiences is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different levels of data access and processing for different users, services, and data types. Instead of applying a uniform data minimization policy across all scenarios, the system enables fine-grained control where sensitive data can be protected while less sensitive data can be shared more freely. This allows comprehensive user experiences to be delivered by providing appropriate information to appropriate users without unnecessarily exposing sensitive data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic data access control where the level of data exposure adapts based on user preferences, context, and security requirements. The system can dynamically adjust what data is shared, with whom, and under what conditions, allowing comprehensive user experiences to be delivered while maintaining data minimization principles. Users can modify their privacy preferences at any time, and the system adaptively enforces updated policies without requiring complete data reprocessing.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods are provided for cloud-based privacy controls. User content is encrypted using a content encryption key (CEK). The CEK may be double-encrypted by the data producer—the inner envelope is encrypted using keys associated with privacy domains that are authorized to access the user content. The outer envelope is encrypted using a cloud privacy control's public key. When a data consumer requests access the user content, the cloud privacy control evaluates privacy policies and determine whether access should be permitted. If permitted, the cloud privacy control decrypts the outer envelope and provides the inner envelope with CEK to the requestor. Upon receiving the inner envelope, the data consumer may then decrypt the inner envelope with its privacy domain private key to obtain the CEK. The CEK may then be used to perform a decryption and obtain the user content.