Anonymising documents

Municipality of Rotterdam

Recognise and anonymise privacy-sensitive information and documents.

Last change on 14th of October 2024, at 13:17 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0

• Publication category: Other algorithms
• Impact assessment: DPIA
• Status: In use

General information

Theme

Organisation and business operations

Begin date

02-2023

Contact information

[e-mail]

Link to source registration

https://algoritmeregister.rotterdam.nl/p/Onzealgoritmes/53761720551735297

Responsible use

Goal and impact

PURPOSE: The anonymisation software is used to give substance to transparency on the one hand and the necessary protection of the individuals and companies to whom documents relate on the other.
IMPACT: The impact of the algorithm on citizens and companies is low. The algorithm searches specifically for (personal) data and masks or removes them regardless of the further content of the documents.

Considerations

The use of anonymisation software speeds up and simplifies the process for active and passive disclosure. Automated anonymisation is also less error-prone than human intervention. This reduces the risk of a data breach and better protects citizens' and companies' data.

Human intervention

The employee always has the option to modify the algorithm's suggestion.

Risk management

Field not filled in.

Links to legal bases

• Bekendmakingswet: https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0004287/2024-01-01
• Wet algemene bepalingen omgevingsrecht: https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0024779/2023-04-19
• Algemene wet bestuursrecht: https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0005537/2024-05-01
• Wet open overheid: https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0045754/2023-04-01
• Wet elektronische publicaties: https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0043961/2024-01-01
• Gemeentewet: https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0005416/2024-01-31
• Uitvoeringswet Algemene Verordening Gegevensbescherming: https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0040940/2021-07-01/0
• Algemene verordening gegevensbescherming: https://autoriteitpersoonsgegevens.nl/uploads/imported/verordening_2016_-_679_definitief.pdf

Impact assessment

Data Protection Impact Asssesment (DPIA)

Operations

Data

Personal names, addresses, postcodes, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, BSN, VAT numbers, IBAN account numbers, IDs, municipal employees signatures, special personal data, license plates, face

Links to data sources

Gemeentelijke documenten

Technical design

The algorithm recognises (personal) data and otherwise confidential information in a document and makes a proposal to anonymise it. An employee evaluates the proposal and makes the final adjustment, making the document suitable for publication. The use of anonymisation software makes it faster and easier for the municipality to make documents suitable for publication. Automated anonymisation also appears to lead to fewer errors. This reduces the risk of a data leak and citizens' and companies' data are better protected. The outcomes are no different from if this work were done manually by humans.

External provider

Zylab