The Linkage Problem: A Hidden Roadblock in Data Collaboration
Industries like advertising, healthcare, and financial services depend on data collaboration for critical operations - from customer identity resolution to fraud prevention, regulatory compliance, and personalized engagement. However, traditional methods require sharing identifiable information - creating security risks, compliance hurdles, and operational inefficiencies.
This is the linkage problem - matching records across datasets without exposing sensitive information. Historically, businesses have accepted trade-offs: either centralizing data in third-party environments or aggregating it in ways that limit its utility. But as privacy expectations and regulations tighten, this approach is no longer viable. The future of data collaboration depends on linking data without exposure and without sacrificing control or data utility. Widely Discussed PETs Miss the Mark
In response to growing privacy concerns, a variety of Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs) have emerged. Federated learning, differential privacy, fully homomorphic encryption, and synthetic data all promise ways to analyze data while reducing exposure. However, they focus on protecting already integrated data. They don’t address the core challenge of securely linking records in the first place.
Data clean rooms, often marketed as a privacy solution, still require centralizing data with a third party—shifting, rather than eliminating, the risk. This is the same old approach to data sharing, just rebranded under the guise of privacy.
If the goal is true privacy-preserving data collaboration, we need more than just after-the-fact protections for analytics or rebranded legacy approaches. We need a fundamental shift in how data flows.
Privacy-Enhanced Data Pipelines: Solving the Linkage Problem at the Source
The solution isn’t more security layers on centralized data—it’s transforming how data flows. Privacy-enhanced data pipelines allow organizations to match and collaborate on data without ever exposing sensitive information. Instead of sending raw, identifiable information to third parties, these pipelines ensure sensitive data stays controlled by its owners while still being linkable for analysis and activation.
This approach eliminates the need to make a trade-off between privacy and usability. Organizations maintain security, reduce regulatory risks, and retain control over their most valuable data assets. This shift moves from a trust-based model, where organizations must trust third parties, to a trustless framework, where exposure isn’t possible.
For industries that rely on data collaboration, this isn’t just about compliance—it’s about unlocking new possibilities without compromising security.
Making This a Reality with Karlsgate’s PKO Approach
Achieving this level of privacy and security requires rethinking the entire process of data integration. Traditional approaches force organizations to relinquish control at some point in the workflow, whether by sharing raw data, relying on intermediaries, or exposing sensitive information during matching. But what if data could be linked without ever being exposed—not just encrypted at rest or in transit, but fundamentally protected throughout the entire process?
Karlsgate’s Partitioned Knowledge Orchestration (PKO) model enables secure identity resolution without exposing identifiable data. PKO is a form of Secure Multi-party Computation that enables blind matching over multiple remote datasets using a neutral facilitator. Instead of sharing sensitive information, PKO allows organizations to match and collaborate on data while keeping PII fully protected, eliminating the risks of traditional data-sharing methods.
The Future of Data Collaboration
The outdated model—where exposure is inevitable—is becoming obsolete. Secure, privacy-first data collaboration is now a reality, driven by advances like Secure Multi-party Computation and post-quantum cryptography.
At Karlsgate, we’ve built a solution that enables organizations to match and collaborate on data at scale while maintaining full privacy and control. By eliminating exposure, we’re not just improving security—we’re redefining what’s possible for data collaboration.
For executive leaders concerned about balancing data security with the demand for data across all facets of the business, Karlsgate offers a robust, easy-to-implement solution. Protect your data from risks and breaches while seamlessly accessing it for critical initiatives. Secure and maximize your data's potential with Karlsgate.