data anonymization

Data anonymization is the process of modifying or removing personally identifiable information from a dataset so individual identities cannot be identified. This involves techniques like masking, aggregating, or generalizing data, ensuring that the information remains useful for analysis but protects privacy. It allows organizations to share or analyze data without exposing personal details, reducing the risk of privacy breaches or misuse. Essentially, anonymization transforms data to safeguard individual identities while maintaining its overall usefulness for research, reporting, or decision-making purposes.