Emerging privacy-enhancing technologies

Abstract

This report examines privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs), which are digital solutions that allow information to be collected, processed, analysed, and shared while protecting data confidentiality and privacy. The report reviews recent technological advancements and evaluates the effectiveness of different types of PETs, as well as the challenges and opportunities they present. It also outlines current regulatory and policy approaches to PETs to help privacy enforcement authorities and policy makers better understand how they can be used to enhance privacy and data protection, and to improve overall data governance. This report was drafted by Christian Reimsbach-Kounatze (Digital Economy Policy Division) together with an external consultant, Mr. Taylor Reynolds (Technology Policy Director of MIT's Internet Policy Research Initiative), under the supervision of Clarisse Girot (Digital Economy Policy Division). The report is a contribution to IOR 1.3.1.2.3 of the 2021-2022 Programme of Work and Budget (PWB) of the Committee on Digital Economy Policy. It was approved and declassified by the Committee on Digital Economy Policy on 27 February 2023.This publication is a contribution to Phase III of the OECD Going Digital project, which aims to provide policy makers with the tools they need to design and implement better data policies to promote growth and well-being.For more information, visit www.oecd.org/going-digital.