Human-Centered Interactive Anonymization for Privacy-Preserving Machine Learning: A Case for Human-Guided k-Anonymity

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Author: Gajavalli, Sri Harsha
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Gajavalli, Sri Harsha
author_facet Gajavalli, Sri Harsha
contents Privacy-preserving machine learning (ML) seeks to balance data utility and privacy, especially as regulations like the GDPR mandate the anonymization of personal data for ML applications. Conventional anonymization approaches often reduce data utility due to indiscriminate generalization or suppression of data attributes. In this study, we propose an interactive approach that incorporates human input into the k-anonymization process, enabling domain experts to guide attribute preservation based on contextual importance. Using the UCI Adult dataset, we compare classification outcomes of interactive human-influenced anonymization with traditional, fully automated methods. Our results show that human input can enhance data utility in some cases, although results vary across tasks and settings. We discuss limitations of our approach and suggest potential areas for improved interactive frameworks in privacy-aware ML.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_04104
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Human-Centered Interactive Anonymization for Privacy-Preserving Machine Learning: A Case for Human-Guided k-Anonymity
Gajavalli, Sri Harsha
Cryptography and Security
Privacy-preserving machine learning (ML) seeks to balance data utility and privacy, especially as regulations like the GDPR mandate the anonymization of personal data for ML applications. Conventional anonymization approaches often reduce data utility due to indiscriminate generalization or suppression of data attributes. In this study, we propose an interactive approach that incorporates human input into the k-anonymization process, enabling domain experts to guide attribute preservation based on contextual importance. Using the UCI Adult dataset, we compare classification outcomes of interactive human-influenced anonymization with traditional, fully automated methods. Our results show that human input can enhance data utility in some cases, although results vary across tasks and settings. We discuss limitations of our approach and suggest potential areas for improved interactive frameworks in privacy-aware ML.
title Human-Centered Interactive Anonymization for Privacy-Preserving Machine Learning: A Case for Human-Guided k-Anonymity
topic Cryptography and Security
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.04104