US bans differential privacy in Census data
Summary
The US Department of Commerce bans 'noise infusion' (differential privacy) for Census and BEA data. The post explains what differential privacy is, contrasts it with other disclosure-avoidance techniques, and analyzes potential impacts on data utility and privacy. It argues the move could reduce data usefulness while not trivializing privacy risks, and it places the policy in the broader context of government statistics and data governance.