Social Network Data Display Blocking Using Hash-Based Deletion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for managing sensitive personal data on social network sites are resource-intensive, time-consuming, and often result in false positives, while sacrificing security or allowing uncontrolled data proliferation, making it difficult to balance data privacy and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that selectively collects and transmits instructions to control and prevent the display of user account data based on predetermined criteria, using modules to manage data access, deletion, and display prevention across social network sites, optimizing data security and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If blacklist techniques are used to identify and delete sensitive data, then data security is improved, but device complexity and false positives increase making network-wide scaling impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces hash values as an intermediary representation of sensitive data. Instead of directly analyzing and managing the actual sensitive content, the system converts data to hash values which serve as compact, unique identifiers. This intermediary layer enables efficient matching and deletion across the network without requiring complex analysis of the original data, thus improving scalability while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates and manages copies of data identifiers (hash values) rather than the original sensitive data itself. These hash copies can be transmitted, stored, and processed efficiently across the network without the complexity and security risks associated with handling the actual sensitive information. The hash copies serve as surrogates that enable network-wide data management.
2Reliability
If item-by-item identification and deletion is performed, then data privacy is improved, but loss of time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual data deletion operations into a single batch operation. By collecting hash values of sensitive data items and processing them collectively through a unified deletion mechanism, the system eliminates the time overhead of sequential identification and deletion. This combining approach maintains the privacy benefits of targeted deletion while dramatically reducing the total time required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-computing and storing hash values of sensitive data before the actual deletion operation. This preliminary hashing allows the deletion process to work with pre-prepared identifiers rather than analyzing original data during deletion, significantly accelerating the process while maintaining accuracy in identifying the correct data items for removal.
3Ease of operation
If all information is allowed to proliferate without reservation, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hash value intermediary enables the system to maintain open data access operations while secretly filtering sensitive information. The intermediary layer allows the system to appear permissive in data access while actually enforcing security constraints through hash-based identification and deletion, thus maintaining ease of operation without compromising security reliability.
4Reliability
If abstinence or discontinued use of social networks is advocated, then reliability of privacy is improved, but productivity is worsened by negating technological advantages
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated self-service deletion of sensitive data through hash value matching and batch processing. This automation eliminates the need for manual intervention or complete disengagement from social networks, allowing users to maintain productivity while the system autonomously handles privacy protection by identifying and removing sensitive information.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, at a terminal in a digital communications network, comprising: establishing direct or indirect communication access and linkage between the user-operated terminal and at least one remote computer(s) on which are stored, or by which access is available to prevent legible display of, stored user account object data; displaying indicia, or broadcasting data, representative of or indicating one or more predetermined criteria for selecting a subset of the stored user account object data; collecting data, representative of, or indicating, only the subset of the stored user account object data; and transmitting instructions to prevent legible display of the subset of the stored user account object data, according to the collected data representative of, or indicating, the one or more predetermined criteria for selecting the subset of the stored user account object data, from the terminal to the at least one remote computer(s). A terminal, system, and computer readable medium are also disclosed.