Please note: The algorithm descriptions in English have been automatically translated. Errors may have been introduced in this process. For the original descriptions, go to the Dutch version of the Algorithm Register.
Octobox Anonymisation
- Publication category
- Impactful algorithms
- Impact assessment
- Field not filled in.
- Status
- In use
General information
Theme
Begin date
Contact information
Link to publication website
Responsible use
Goal and impact
The purpose of Octobox Anonymise is to support the Forestry Commission in securely and efficiently varnishing privacy-sensitive information in documents. Octobox makes suggestions for varnishing information to be protected. Employees can accept or reject the suggestions. There are no automatic decisions, so the impact is low.
Considerations
The Woo has (relative and absolute) legal grounds for exceptions that determine when information is withheld. The AVG also provides for this, to protect personal data. The Forestry Commission's application of these grounds for exception is an existing process. Octobox anonymise automates this process, by recognising information to be protected. The use of Octobox is justified because (trained) employees must always approve, modify or reject the suggestion of Octobox.
Human intervention
The lacrosse employee maintains control by approving, modifying or rejecting a proposal.
Risk management
The biggest risk is that information is incorrectly lacquered or accidentally disclosed anyway, which could lead to violation of privacy laws (such as the AVG), reputational damage for the Forestry Commission, or damage to affected individuals (such as identity theft or misuse of data). These risks are mitigated by mandatory human control: Octobox only makes suggestions and employees make the final decision. In addition, employees are trained in the use of Octobox and additional guidelines are available.
Legal basis
General data protection regulation (AVG)
General Administrative Law Act (AWB)
Disclosure Act
Open Government Act (WOO)
Electronic Publications Act (WEP)
Links to legal bases
- General data protection regulation (AVG): https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0040940
- General Administrative Law Act (AWB): https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0005537
- Disclosure Act: https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0004287
- Open Government Act (WOO): https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0045754
- Electronic Publications Act (WEP): https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0043961
Operations
Data
The algorithm processes complete documents reviewed for disclosure, such as Woo requests, policy documents, reports or e-mails. These documents may contain any type of information, including personal data such as names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, dates of birth, BSN numbers, financial data or signatures. Octobox scans the entire document to detect possible information to be protected. Thus, the algorithm is not limited to specific data categories, but works on the total content of the document.
Technical design
Based on smart rules, the software searches through the texts of every document in the offered file. Certain texts, words or character combinations are recognised as traceable data, such as Citizen Service Numbers, Bank Account Numbers, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, dates, residential addresses and postal codes.
The software can be set to the degree of certainty in which a condition is met. For the employee, the screen indicates which text fragments should be lacquered with certainty, and which meet the established smart rule to a lesser extent. Through the screen, the employee can approve or reject the proposals, and also amend for approval. The collaborator can also mark text itself and make it eligible for varnishing, including adding a basis.
It is possible for a second collaborator to check the work of the first. Once all (pages of all) documents in the file have been reviewed, the final version is created, in a suitable format for publication.
External provider
Similar algorithm descriptions
- The algorithm in the software is mainly set to recognise and anonymise privacy-sensitive information in documents. Basis for this is the AVG. The tool is also used to highlight and mask information that cannot be shared for other reasons (based on another basis, e.g. the Woo) in a document.Last change on 13th of November 2024, at 13:53 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0
- Publication category
- Other algorithms
- Impact assessment
- Field not filled in.
- Status
- In use
- The algorithm in the software is mainly set to recognise and anonymise privacy-sensitive information in documents. Basis for this is the AVG. The tool is also used to highlight and mask information that cannot be shared for other reasons (based on another basis, e.g. the Woo) in a document.Last change on 3rd of November 2025, at 9:42 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0
- Publication category
- Other algorithms
- Impact assessment
- Field not filled in.
- Status
- In use
- The algorithm in the software is mainly set to recognise and anonymise privacy-sensitive information in documents. Basis for this is the AVG. The tool is also used to highlight and mask information that cannot be shared for other reasons (based on another basis, e.g. the Woo) in a document.Last change on 6th of August 2024, at 11:49 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0
- Publication category
- Other algorithms
- Impact assessment
- Field not filled in.
- Status
- In use
- The algorithm in the software is mainly set to recognise and anonymise privacy-sensitive information in documents. Basis for this is the AVG. The tool is also used to highlight and mask information that cannot be shared for other reasons (based on another basis, e.g. the Woo) in a document.Last change on 20th of March 2025, at 13:40 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0
- Publication category
- Impactful algorithms
- Impact assessment
- Field not filled in.
- Status
- In use
- The algorithm in the software is mainly set to recognise and anonymise privacy-sensitive information in documents. Basis for this is the AVG. The tool is also used to highlight and mask information that cannot be shared for other reasons (based on another basis, e.g. the Woo) in a document.Last change on 3rd of November 2025, at 8:55 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0
- Publication category
- Other algorithms
- Impact assessment
- Field not filled in.
- Status
- In use