Description: Geographic masking is a process that involves obscuring geographic data to protect individual location information. This method is primarily used in the field of data anonymization, where user privacy is a paramount concern. By applying geographic masking techniques, the aim is to eliminate or modify information that could identify a person’s exact location, such as GPS coordinates or specific addresses. This is achieved through data generalization, where precise locations are replaced with broader areas, or through data perturbation, which introduces random variations into geographic information. The relevance of this process lies in its ability to allow spatial data analysis without compromising individual privacy, which is crucial in sectors such as healthcare, marketing, and social research. In an increasingly interconnected world, where personal data is highly valued and vulnerable, geographic masking emerges as an essential tool for protecting sensitive information while leveraging the benefits of data analysis.
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