Data Anonymization System Using ML Entity Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies face challenges in effectively masking personal and confidential information from data for sharing, particularly due to privacy and security concerns, which hinders data sharing for machine learning and artificial intelligence model development, testing, and cloud processing.

Innovation Solution

A machine learning and rule-based system for identifying, anonymizing, and de-anonymizing sensitive structured and unstructured data, utilizing techniques like entity extraction, replacement strategies, and human-in-the-loop feedback for custom masking, supports multiple languages and maintains data consistency, enabling secure data sharing and model training.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data masking is applied to remove personal and confidential information, then data privacy and security are improved, but data utility for machine learning and AI model development deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata privacy and securityVSAvoiddata utility for ML/AI
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates synthetic copies of real data that preserve statistical properties and patterns while removing identifiable personal information. Synthetic data generation techniques produce artificial datasets that maintain the utility needed for machine learning and AI model development without containing actual sensitive information from individuals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system transforms data by changing parameters such as perturbing numerical values, generalizing categorical data, and modifying data structures while preserving the underlying patterns and relationships. These parameter changes allow data to maintain its analytical value for ML/AI purposes while eliminating privacy risks associated with direct identification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If comprehensive data masking is applied to ensure complete anonymization, then data protection compliance is improved, but data quality and consistency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata protection complianceVSAvoiddata quality and consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different masking techniques to different parts of the dataset based on sensitivity levels and usage requirements. Critical personally identifiable information receives strong anonymization, while other fields maintain higher quality through lighter masking approaches, preserving overall data consistency and utility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The masking approach is made dynamic and adaptable rather than static. The system can adjust the level of masking based on the specific context, purpose of data usage, and risk assessment, allowing data quality to be optimized for different scenarios while maintaining compliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If manual review and human-in-the-loop processes are implemented for data masking, then masking accuracy is improved, but processing time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemasking accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Human reviewers provide feedback on automatically masked data, which is then used to refine and improve the automated masking algorithms. This feedback loop allows the system to learn from human expertise and progressively improve masking accuracy while reducing the need for extensive manual review over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary automated masking before human review, pre-processing the data to handle the majority of masking requirements. This preliminary action reduces the workload for human reviewers and accelerates the overall process while maintaining high accuracy through subsequent human verification of critical cases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12045373B2Machine learning and rule-based identification, anonymization, and de-anonymization of sensitive structured and unstructured data
Publication Date: 2024.07.23 ACCENTURE GLOBAL SOLUTIONS LTD
  • US12045373B2 patent drawing
  • US12045373B2 patent drawing
  • US12045373B2 patent drawing

AI summary

In some examples, machine learning and rule-based identification, anonymization, and de-anonymization of sensitive structured and unstructured data may include receiving input data that is to be masked, and determining, for the input data, at least one type '1 of entity extraction from a plurality of types of entity extractions to be performed on the input data. The at least one determined type of entity extraction may be performed on the input data, and at least one entity may be extracted from the input data. At least one replacement strategy may be determined from a plurality of replacement strategies for the at least one extracted entity. Further, the at least one determined replacement strategy may be applied to the at least one extracted entity to generate masked data.