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AI Governance Glossary
Governance Concept

What Is Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs)?

Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs) is techniques that let data be used or analysed while minimising exposure of the underlying personal information.

Definition

Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs)techniques that let data be used or analysed while minimising exposure of the underlying personal information.

PETs include methods such as differential privacy, homomorphic encryption, federated learning, and secure multi-party computation. They matter for AI because they offer ways to train on or analyse sensitive data without centralising raw personal information, helping reconcile data utility with data-protection obligations.

Source: OECD; ICO PETs guidance

Plain-language explanation

PETs include methods such as differential privacy, homomorphic encryption, federated learning, and secure multi-party computation. They matter for AI because they offer ways to train on or analyse sensitive data without centralising raw personal information, helping reconcile data utility with data-protection obligations.

Primary source: OECD; ICO PETs guidance

Related terms

Differential Privacy Homomorphic Encryption Data Minimisation Data Protection by Design and by Default

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