Insights from FPF's Privacy-Boosting Technology Conference
The recent Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) Workshop, hosted by the Research Coordination Network and the Mozilla Foundation, brought together technology, legal, and policy experts to discuss the role of PETs in data protection and AI governance.
- Real-World Use Cases of PETs
The workshop showcased practical applications of PETs such as federated learning and synthetic data, enabling sectors like finance and healthcare to unlock data insights while minimizing privacy risks.
- Secure Collaboration and AI Governance
Panel discussions emphasized the importance of PETs in facilitating secure cross-border data collaboration and future-proofing organizations’ AI governance frameworks.
- Global Perspectives and Standards Alignment
International experts shared insights on aligning PETs with evolving global privacy standards to promote responsible AI innovation while maintaining user trust.
- Driving Responsible Data Use and AI Development
PETs were presented as critical tools for enabling responsible data sharing and accelerating AI innovation without compromising privacy.
- Engagement of Diverse Stakeholders
The event brought together early PET adopters, technical experts, regulators, and business leaders, fostering a comprehensive conversation about privacy protection, regulatory compliance, and technological advancement.
Notable presentations included Mastercard's Chief Privacy Officer, Caroline Louveaux, who discussed a privacy-preserving technology using Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) in a new cross-border fraud detection system. Robert Pisarczyk, CEO and Co-Founder of Oblivious, presented a privacy-preserving technology implemented in partnership with an insurance company.
The workshop also touched upon the use of differential privacy, a technique that allows businesses to generate summaries, trends, and patterns without compromising individual privacy by anonymizing data before deletion. The companies applied differential privacy techniques to retain information from personal data while complying with legal requirements to delete it.
Moreover, the workshop participants discussed how PETs may aid companies in complying with broader financial regulations, not just data protection regulations. Two Issue Briefs were mentioned: "PETs Use Case: Preventing Financial Fraud Across Different Jurisdictions with Fully Homomorphic Encryption" and "PETs Use Case: Differential Privacy for End-of-Life Data".
The lack of clear regulatory guidance necessitates reliance on best practices, trust, and adherence to local laws between/across jurisdictions. Companies require more incentives to develop and implement PETs, given their high cost and regulatory uncertainty.
The workshop concluded that PETs are essential for the development and proof of concept of privacy-enhancing technologies, with multiple PETs and privacy protections helping reduce risk in many cases. The event was part of Personal Data Protection Week 2025, where over 2,000 participants engaged in actionable discussions on the evolving complexities of data protection with emerging technologies.
- The workshop highlighted the role of Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) in preventing cross-border fraud, as demonstrated by Mastercard's Chief Privacy Officer, Caroline Louveaux.
- The event featured Robert Pisarczyk, CEO and Co-Founder of Oblivious, who unveiled a privacy-preserving technology implemented in partnership with an insurance company.
- The workshop addressed the anonymization of data using the technique of differential privacy, enabling companies to comply with legal requirements to delete personal data while retaining information for further use.
- Remaining compliant with financial regulations is crucial in garnering support for the development and implementation of Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs), in addition to adhering to data protection regulations.
- Two Issue Briefs were mentioned at the workshop: "PETs Use Case: Preventing Financial Fraud Across Different Jurisdictions with Fully Homomorphic Encryption" and "PETs Use Case: Differential Privacy for End-of-Life Data".
- To navigate the lack of clear regulatory guidance, participants stressed the importance of adhering to best practices, building trust, and complying with local laws between jurisdictions.
- The high cost and regulatory uncertainty involved in building and implementing PETs necessitate further incentives to boost industry interest.
- The Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) Workshop was an integral part of Personal Data Protection Week 2025, attracting over 2,000 participants for discussions on the complexities of data protection in the wake of emerging technologies.
