15-508 / 17-801 / 19-608 / 95-818: Privacy Policy, Law, and Technology

Homework 9 - due November 2, 2005

Reading Assignment:
- Solove 7, 8
- Sweeney 2001
- Sweeney 2002

1. Write a short summary of each chapter or article in the reading assignment (2-5 sentences each). After each summary (in a separate paragraph) provide a "highlight" for that chapter. This can be something new you learned that you found particularly interesting, a point you would like to discuss further in class, a question the chapter did not fully answer, something you found confusing, a point you disagree with, or anything else you found noteworthy. [30 points]

2. [40 points] Pick a biometric identifier and do some research on it. Be sure to cite your sources in your answers to the following questions:

• a) Briefly describe how this biometric is used for identification and/or authentication
• b) Describe two specific applications for which this biometric is currently used. (Or if it is only in the research prototype stage, describe two applications for which it is being proposed.) For each one be sure to say whether the biometric is being used for identification or authentication (or both).
• c) What advantages do proponents claim this biometric has over other biometrics?
• d)What concerns have been raised about this biometric?

3. [30 points]The table below contains information from the course roster for our class. Suppose some researchers were interested in finding out whether there was any correlation between grades in this class and student college, department, or class.

• a) If I were to add grade information to this table and give it to the researchers, would you consider this to be an anonymous release of this data? Why or why not?
• b) Rewrite this table so that it is k-anonymous where k=2. and so that its value to the researchers is maximized. Use a bold font to highlight the cells in the table that you changed.
• c) Do you believe k=2 provides a sufficient level of anonymity for this type of data release? Why or why not?

COLLEGE DEPT    CLASS
SCS     CS      Junior
SCS     CS      Junior
SCS     CS      Senior
SCS     CS      Senior
SCS     SE      Master
SCS     ROB     Doct
CIT     ECE     Senior
CIT     MSE     Senior
CIT     INI     Master
CIT     ECE     Master
CIT     EPP     Doct
CMU     IS      Master
HNZ     PPM     Master
HNZ     PPM     Master
HNZ     PPM     Master
HNZ     PPM     Master