Spatial K-anonymity: A Privacy-preserving Method for COVID-19 Related Geo-spatial Technologies

Rohan Iyer, Regina Rex, Kevin McPherson, Darshan Gandhi, Aryan Mahindra, Abhishek Singh, Abhishek Singh, Ramesh Raskar, Ramesh Raskar

2021

Abstract

There is a growing need for spatial privacy considerations in the many geo-spatial technologies that have been created as solutions for COVID-19-related issues. Although effective geo-spatial technologies have already been rolled out, most have significantly sacrificed privacy for utility. In this paper, we explore spatial k-anonymity, a privacy-preserving method that can address this unnecessary tradeoff by providing the best of both privacy and utility. After evaluating its past implications in geo-spatial use cases, we propose applications of spatial k-anonymity in the data sharing and managing of COVID-19 contact tracing technologies as well as heat maps showing a user’s travel history. We then justify our propositions by comparing spatial k-anonymity with several other spatial privacy methods, including differential privacy, geo-indistinguishability, and manual consent based redaction. Our hope is to raise awareness of the ever-growing risks associated with spatial privacy and how they can be solved with Spatial K-anonymity.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Iyer R., Rex R., McPherson K., Gandhi D., Mahindra A., Singh A. and Raskar R. (2021). Spatial K-anonymity: A Privacy-preserving Method for COVID-19 Related Geo-spatial Technologies. In Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Geographical Information Systems Theory, Applications and Management - Volume 1: GISTAM, ISBN 978-989-758-503-6, pages 109-115. DOI: 10.5220/0010428400750081

in Bibtex Style

@conference{gistam21,
author={Rohan Iyer and Regina Rex and Kevin McPherson and Darshan Gandhi and Aryan Mahindra and Abhishek Singh and Ramesh Raskar},
title={Spatial K-anonymity: A Privacy-preserving Method for COVID-19 Related Geo-spatial Technologies},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Geographical Information Systems Theory, Applications and Management - Volume 1: GISTAM,},
year={2021},
pages={109-115},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0010428400750081},
isbn={978-989-758-503-6},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Geographical Information Systems Theory, Applications and Management - Volume 1: GISTAM,
TI - Spatial K-anonymity: A Privacy-preserving Method for COVID-19 Related Geo-spatial Technologies
SN - 978-989-758-503-6
AU - Iyer R.
AU - Rex R.
AU - McPherson K.
AU - Gandhi D.
AU - Mahindra A.
AU - Singh A.
AU - Raskar R.
PY - 2021
SP - 109
EP - 115
DO - 10.5220/0010428400750081