Data Bites – Introduction to Data De-identification

Workshop: Introduction to De-identification

This practical workshop, delivered by the UBC Library Research Data Management team, is the first session in a three‑part series on anonymizing and preparing sensitive data for responsible research use and sharing. This introductory session focuses on core concepts, terminology, and conceptual frameworks that underpin data de-identification practices across disciplines.

Participants will learn how to:

• Identify direct and indirect identifiers and understand their implications for privacy risk
• Examine conceptual models for assessing re‑identification risk
• Explore ethical, legal, and methodological considerations that shape data de-identification decisions
• Understand how theoretical principles guide practical workflows covered in later sessions in the series: Introduction to Manual Data De-identification, and Introduction to Software-Based Data De-identification