Comet is sketching a poster for the council. "We could show every answer sheet on the wall," she says. "IDs only, no names. Totally private!"
Keeper Ines looks over her shoulder. "Hmm. Suppose one sheet says weekend, paper form and repair bench."
"If only one member fits that, I would know exactly who it is," she says gently.
Comet stops sketching. "But there would be no name on it."
Wren nods slowly. "What do you notice? The pieces added up to one person."
Nova hovers near the poster. "Would you like a hint?" she asks. "Think about how a big survey keeps its answers safe."
Wren turns to you. "Data analyst, how do we share without pointing at anyone?"
Scattered bits of personal data can be combined to learn about one person.
Combining what people post with other sources can reveal private facts about them.
An ID hides a name, but a row of answers can still point to one member if the pieces are rare enough.
| Made-up answer sheet | Usual visit time | How they answered | Wants added |
|---|---|---|---|
| M?? (example only) | Weekend | Paper form | Repair bench |
The Census Bureau keeps all the data it collects confidential.
Before it releases any statistics, it checks them to make sure nothing in them could identify a person.
The Bureau says it never reveals who answered.
The crew borrows the idea. It will share totals, not rows, and check every total before the council sees it.
| Statement | True or false? |
|---|---|
| Scattered bits of personal data can be combined to learn about one person. | ? |
| Removing names always makes answers impossible to trace. | ? |
| The Census Bureau checks statistics before releasing them. | ? |
| The Census Bureau keeps the data it collects confidential. | ? |
| The crew plans to post every answer sheet on the wall. | ? |
Careful thinking. Tomorrow is Impact Friday, and the council has a hard question about safety.