technology application

Synthetic Data

2
domains
0
stories
6
SDGs
updatedAug 31, 2023
image

Mika Baumeister @ unsplash.com

Artificial data, often generated with the support of deep neural networks, allow the creation of highly accurate and realistic data sets based on existing data. This solution makes it possible to rely on Big Data while protecting the identity of people in a database and avoiding their reidentification.
Artificial data, often generated with the support of deep neural networks, allow the creation of highly accurate and realistic data sets based on existing data. This solution makes it possible to rely on Big Data while protecting the identity of people in a database and avoiding their reidentification.

Synthetic Data refers to artificially generated data sets, enabling privacy-friendly Big Data innovation. These artificial data sets are based on original data that often include personal details collected from sources like CRM databases, financial transactions, medical records, or smart city data.

Existing real-world data is used to train a synthetic data engine in a secure IT environment such as a private cloud, SaaS contexts, or on-premise. In the engine, deep neural networks then automatically identify and understand patterns, structures, and correlations, even in vast and complex data sets. When training is complete, the software can generate unlimited synthetic data sets retaining the statistical properties of the original data source. Some alternative techniques include semantic approaches, generative adversarial networks, and statistically rigorous sampling from real data.

Synthetic Data can be used for training AI models, product demos, hackathons, scenario simulations, internal prototyping, advanced analytics, development and testing, data monetization, and open innovation, as sharing data with third parties no longer poses privacy concerns. It is also compliant with GDPR and other data protection regulations, as customer identification becomes impossible. It also supports smaller companies, startups, and academia to innovate in a world where Big Data is concentrated in the hands of Big Tech. Applications can be seen across different sectors, such as finance, insurance, healthcare, government, mobility, and telecommunications.

This solution allows for more privacy-compliant, scalable, faster, and less expensive access to enhanced data, as opposed to real data, which is often expensive, biased, imbalanced, unavailable, or unusable due to privacy regulations. It also overcomes a flaw of classic data anonymization techniques such as data destruction, where the reidentification of individual customers is still possible, even with the few remaining data points.

Read More

Related Content

4 organizations
2 technology domains
8 industries
  • Finance
  • Communications
  • Healthcare
  • Mobility
  • Government & Citizenship
  • Entertainment
  • Retail & Logistics
  • Media & Interface
13 topics
  • Anti-Corruption & Standards of Integrity
  • Digital Economy
  • Digital Governance and Society
  • Employment and Labour Markets
  • Global Health
  • Human Rights
  • Insurance
  • Public Administration
  • Rule of Law
  • Security
  • Universal Health Coverage
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Urbanization
6 SDGs
  • 03 Good Health and Well-Being
  • 08 Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • 09 Industry, innovation and infrastructure
  • 10 Reduce inequalities
  • 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • 16 Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions