The study draws attention to the inherent tensions between the protection of data, the usability of anonymised data and the proportionality of the various anonymisation methods employed. It becomes evident that the interests of data owners and data recipients are frequently in conflict. While data owners tend to favour a high degree of anonymisation in order to maximise data protection, data recipients typically prefer a lower degree of anonymisation in order to obtain better data quality and usability.
The focus is on analysing different anonymisation methods. The strengths and weaknesses of each method are evaluated, and the choice of an appropriate method is shown to be highly dependent on the specific objectives of the application, the characteristics of the data, and the economic and technical context in which it is to be used. The implementation of simple methods is straightforward; however, they often result in a reduction of data quality. In contrast, modern approaches offer superior compromises but are more demanding and cost-intensive.
The study emphasises that meaningful data access can only be achieved through a combination of suitable anonymisation procedures, clear regulatory requirements and consideration of the interests of all stakeholders.
