Privacy Enhancing Technologies in Digital Learning Platforms

Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) protect sensitive data while attempting to preserve its utility. They are not just technical tools (like encryption, differential privacy, and synthetic data) but also social technologies that help institutions govern data responsibly and maintain trust. For Digital Learning Platforms (DLPs), PETs should be treated as core research infrastructure. They allow valuable analyses such as securely linking education and workforce records or comparing outcomes across sites, while meeting the ethical obligation to protect students, many of whom are minors.