How do anonymisation programmes work?

Do you know what anonymisation is? If not, you should learn its definition and read why it is so important in the modern world. Also, find out how anonymisation programmes work.

What is the anonymisation process?

Anonymisation is an important process of transforming data in such a way that an individual is no longer recognisable or identifiable. For example, by blurring faces on recordings or in photographs. The anonymisation process can be carried out using programmes that will perform it automatically and efficiently.

How do photo and video anonymisation programmes work?

Photo and video anonymisation programmes automatically cover up faces, making it impossible to recognise the people in them. In the same time, the rest of the photo or video remains in good quality. The programmes are especially useful if you have a lot of photos and videos that need to be anonymised. It will save you time and, what’s more, the cost of automatic anonymisation can be low – that’s why it’s worth checking out an anonymisation programme.

Anonymisation of surveillance footage – should it be carried out?

Surveillance footage from companies, institutions or housing communities, among others, cannot be shared unless it has been anonymised. If someone requires the recording to be handed over to them for some reason, it must be anonymised beforehand. It is also important whether the person is on the recording, as this will be verified before it is passed to them.

Why is anonymisation important?

In the modern world, we protect our privacy, which is very important to us. We do not want our image to be disseminated, so we pay attention as to where it appears. If you want to share photos or videos on the internet that include third parties and you do not have their consent, you should anonymise them. However, there are exceptions to this rule – you do not have to hide the image of a well-known person and when the person in the photo or video is part of a whole. The purpose for which you are publishing the photos or recordings is also important – whether they are being disseminated for personal or domestic purposes (for which GDPR does not apply) or for commercial, professional purposes (in which case you must comply with GDPR – General Data Protection Regulation, which relates to the protection of individuals).

Should car number plates be anonymised?

If you want to publish a photo or video that shows a number plate, you need to hide it. You can do this with a graphics software or by using an anonymisation programme. If your car is on the recording or photo, you do not have to cover up the number plates, but it is worth protecting the anonymity of others.