ML Sensitivity Detection for Leaking Browsing Profiles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems fail to accurately detect and prevent the unintentional leakage of sensitive user information during browsing activities, leading to the provision of discriminatory or predatory digital content.

Innovation Solution

A sensitivity detection system utilizing machine-learning models to identify when user profiles inadvertently reveal sensitive information and implement mitigating actions to prevent such leaks, including modifying user profiles and digital content delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If user information is collected and shared to provide digital content, then digital content delivery is improved, but sensitive user information is leaked unintentionally

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedigital content deliveryVSAvoidsensitive user information leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary sensitivity detection system that sits between the user information collection system and the digital content delivery system. This intermediary uses machine learning models to detect sensitive information in user profiles before they are shared, blocking only the sensitive portions while allowing non-sensitive information to flow through for legitimate content delivery purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback loops where the sensitivity detection model continuously monitors user profiles and provides feedback to the profile generation model. When sensitive information is detected, the system adjusts the profile generation parameters to avoid creating profiles that would leak sensitive information, while maintaining the ability to deliver relevant digital content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If machine learning models are used to detect sensitive information, then detection accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensitive information detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the sensitivity detection system into multiple specialized machine learning models, each trained to detect specific types of sensitive information (e.g., health information, financial information, political views). This segmentation allows each model to focus on a specific detection task, improving overall accuracy while managing complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary training of sensitivity detection models using synthetic data generated before deployment. This preliminary action prepares the models in advance with diverse training examples, enabling them to achieve high detection accuracy when deployed in the actual system without requiring complex real-time adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If user profiles are modified to prevent sensitivity leakage, then privacy protection is improved, but digital content relevance may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoiddigital content relevance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the sensitive portions of user profiles and removes or masks them, while preserving the non-sensitive information that is necessary for delivering relevant digital content. This selective extraction approach maintains privacy protection for sensitive areas while keeping the profile useful for content recommendation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different quality standards to different parts of the user profile. Sensitive portions are heavily protected with high anonymity, while non-sensitive portions maintain their original quality and detail level to ensure digital content relevance. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of privacy protection and content relevance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12530495B2Utilizing machine-learning models to detect leaking sensitive browsing information
Publication Date: 2026.01.20 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • US12530495B2 patent drawing
  • US12530495B2 patent drawing
  • US12530495B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a sensitivity detection system that accurately and efficiently determines when information based on a user's browsing activity unintentionally reveals private or other sensitive information about the user. For example, the sensitivity detection system generates and utilizes machine learning models for detecting sensitivity to accurately detect when sensitive user information is being leaked from a collection of user information, such as a user profile. Additionally, upon determining that sensitive user information is being revealed, in many instances, the sensitivity detection system performs mitigation actions to stop and/or reduce sensitive user information from being undesirably revealed.