"The data is de-identified, meaning it does not include names, addresses or precise dates of birth. Vallance said there was a low probability of re-identification, but the breach should nonetheless serve as a real wake-up call for researchers."
"It is increasingly possible to triangulate in large datasets and get close to identification, and that remains a very real risk, he said. Last month, the Guardian was able to re-identify a single participant based in a different UK Biobank dataset that had been leaked online using just their date of birth and the data of an operation."
"The Lords debate comes after an emergency statement by Ian Murray, the technology minister, last Thursday, which revealed that half a million participants in the UK Biobank project had their health data put up for sale on Alibaba."
"Vallance named the three Chinese institutions, whose researchers are understood to be behind the postings, as the Second Xiangya hospital, China-Japan Union hospital, and Beijing Chaoyang hospital."
Confidential health records of 500,000 UK Biobank volunteers have been listed on Alibaba, leading to government intervention. The data is de-identified, reducing re-identification risk, but concerns remain. The government is collaborating with Chinese officials to remove the listings. An emergency statement revealed the breach was reported by a whistle-blower, and all access to UK Biobank data has been suspended. Vallance highlighted the altruism of volunteers while warning about the potential for triangulation in large datasets, which could lead to identification.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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