What is data de-identification?

Data de-identification is a method of data masking that removes personal identifiers such as name and social security number and protected health information (PHI) from documents, media, or data records. This process allows datasets to be used for research, customer service, marketing, or other authorised purposes while safeguarding individual privacy. 

De-identified data cannot be traced back to an individual without additional information, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA and preventing the exposure or misuse of personal information. For example, the Mayo Clinic uses a large de-identified medical record database for clinical research.