65th ISI World Statistics Congress 2025 | The Hague

65th ISI World Statistics Congress 2025 | The Hague

Improving Access to Microdata for Researchers

Organiser

ES
Mr Eric Schulte Nordholt

Participants

  • ES
    DRS Eric Schulte Nordholt
    (Chair)

  • TR
    Titouan Rigaud
    (Presenter/Speaker)
  • An automated approach for output checking

  • NB
    Nikolaj Borg Burmeister
    (Presenter/Speaker)
  • The Danish remote access system

  • JC
    Dr Joseph Chien
    (Presenter/Speaker)
  • Exploring synthetic microdata to enhance data access

  • ST
    Steven Thomas
    (Presenter/Speaker)
  • Statistics Canada’s continued development of safe access solutions

  • Pd
    Peter-Paul de Wolf
    (Discussant)

  • Category: International Association of Survey Statisticians (IASS)

    Proposal Description

    Content
    Researchers are keen on using microdata to perform their research. Data owners and data providers can give access to pseudonomized microdata. However, pseudonomization is not sufficient to prevent disclosure of information on individual entities. Especially in the case the microdata can (and will) be combined with other available microdata.
    Several National Statistical Authorities have quite some experience in granting access to microdata. They often make use of the five safes framework: safe projects, safe people, safe settings, safe data and safe output. Depending on the context, protection measures are taken at the front of the process (before the data are released to researchers), during the process (minimizing risks of unwanted disclosures) and at the end of the process (before outputs are released).
    New (or re-emerging) developments like the use of synthetic data and privacy enhancing technologies could be of help. Questions we will address in this session are to what extend these techniques can add value to the existing situation and to which of the five safes can they be applied?

    Format
    The session will start with a short introduction on the topic by the chair. Then the speakers will show their ideas by giving their presentations. These presentations will be followed by remarks and questions of the discussant. Finally the floor will be opened by inviting the audience to participate in the discussion.