Hashed License Plate Matching for Privacy-Safe Watchlist Checks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sharing sensitive information between organizations raises privacy concerns, as existing systems risk revealing identifying information and violating privacy laws, especially when checking if an individual or vehicle is on a watchlist without disclosing the sensitive information.
Innovation Solution
A method using hashing algorithms to generate hash values of sensitive information identifiers, allowing organizations to check if the identifier is on a list without revealing the actual information, and sending notifications with encrypted additional data for further investigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If organizations share sensitive information identifiers directly to check against watchlists, then verification accuracy is improved, but privacy protection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces hash values as an intermediary representation of sensitive information identifiers. Organizations compute hash values from original identifiers (e.g., license plate numbers, personal IDs) and share only these hash values for verification against watchlists. This intermediary layer enables accurate verification while preventing exposure of the actual sensitive identifiers, thus resolving the contradiction between verification accuracy and privacy protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a cryptographic copy (hash value) of the sensitive information identifier that preserves the verification function while eliminating the privacy risk. The hash value serves as a functional copy that can be compared against watchlist entries without revealing the original identifier. This copying approach allows organizations to achieve verification accuracy equivalent to direct comparison while maintaining privacy protection.
2Reliability
If organizations maintain and share watchlists containing sensitive information, then security monitoring is improved, but information exposure risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms watchlist entries from their original sensitive form into hash value representations. Organizations maintain watchlists containing only hash values rather than actual sensitive identifiers. This intermediary transformation allows security monitoring to function effectively through hash comparison while preventing information exposure, as the watchlist contents remain cryptographically obscured even when shared or accessed.
3Productivity
If direct sharing of captured information is performed between organizations, then collaboration effectiveness is improved, but compliance with privacy laws deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables collaborative verification by sharing cryptographic copies (hash values) instead of original sensitive information. Organizations can effectively collaborate on security matters by comparing hash values against shared or external watchlists, achieving collaboration effectiveness equivalent to direct information sharing while remaining compliant with privacy laws that prohibit sharing of actual sensitive identifiers.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an apparatus for identifying sensitive information identifier in a privacy-protection manner are provided. The method is performed at a first computing entity which is configured to access a set of license plate numbers and to communicate with a second computing entity which is configured to obtain a license plate number that is captured by one of one or more license plate recognition (LPR) devices distributed in a certain geographic area. The method comprises: receiving a first hash value of the license plate number from the second computing entity; determining that the first hash value matches a second hash value of a plurality of hash values in an association relationship; and generating a notification of an identified license plate number. The association relationship maps a respective one of the plurality of hash values to a corresponding license plate number in the set of license plate numbers.