Using Case Studies: to demonstrate work or influence policy
Media coverage often requires case examples to illustrate an issue and there is no doubt that relating the real life experience of people is the best way to do this. However care is always needed to ensure that the person’s privacy is safeguarded and that their story is sufficiently changed to protect their confidentiality. Anonymised data is not considered personal data under the Data Protection Acts. For all reports CIB changes personal details as well as names, locations and other identifying features. However it is impossible to ensure that a person who had worked with a particularly complex case never recognises it, even when anonymised.
These issues are discussed in a recent UK report from the UK Information Commissioner’s Office, Anonymisation: managing data protection risk: code of practice.