Pseudonymisation and anonymisation
Techniques so data doesn’t identify anyone directly (pseudonymise) or by any reasonable means at all (anonymise).
To pseudonymise is to replace what identifies someone (name, ID number) with a code, keeping the key separately so it can be reversed; the GDPR defines it in Art. 4 and the data is still personal data. To anonymise is to make it impossible to identify anyone by reasonable means; truly anonymous data falls outside the GDPR.
With meetings, real anonymisation is hard: even without names, the voice, job title or what each person says can give away who they are. The usual goal is to reduce data, not to make it anonymous.
- Hide data in the transcript that isn’t needed.
- Use a code instead of a name in studies or research.
- Delete the audio when the text is enough.
Echo can hide personal data in the transcript: Spanish ID numbers (DNI and NIE), phone numbers, bank accounts, cards and email addresses are replaced with labels such as [DNI] or [teléfono], during transcription or afterwards with the “Personal data” button. The audio doesn’t change, so that doesn’t make the recording anonymous; for that, delete it with automatic deletion.
