q-Anon: rethinking anonymity for social networks

Aaron Beach*, Mike Gartrell, Richard Han

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference proceeding contributionpeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper proposes that social network data should be assumed public but treated private. Assuming this rather confusing requirement means that anonymity models such as k-anonymity cannot be applied to the most common form of private data release on the internet, social network APIs. An alternative anonymity model, q-Anon, is presented, which measures the probability of an attacker logically deducing previously unknown information from a social network API while assuming the data being protected may already be public information. Finally, the feasibility of such an approach is evaluated suggesting that a social network site such as Facebook could practically implement an anonymous API using q-Anon, providing its users with an anonymous option to the current application model.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings - SocialCom 2010
Subtitle of host publication2nd IEEE International Conference on Social Computing, PASSAT 2010: 2nd IEEE International Conference on Privacy, Security, Risk and Trust
Place of PublicationPiscataway, NJ
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Pages185-192
Number of pages8
ISBN (Print)9780769542119
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010
Externally publishedYes
Event2nd IEEE International Conference on Social Computing, SocialCom 2010, 2nd IEEE International Conference on Privacy, Security, Risk and Trust, PASSAT 2010 - Minneapolis, MN, United States
Duration: 20 Aug 201022 Aug 2010

Publication series

NameProceedings - SocialCom 2010: 2nd IEEE International Conference on Social Computing, PASSAT 2010: 2nd IEEE International Conference on Privacy, Security, Risk and Trust

Conference

Conference2nd IEEE International Conference on Social Computing, SocialCom 2010, 2nd IEEE International Conference on Privacy, Security, Risk and Trust, PASSAT 2010
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityMinneapolis, MN
Period20/08/1022/08/10

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