Report: Analysis of Census Bureau’s April 2021 Differential Privacy Demonstration Product: Implications for Data on Children

In this report, Dr. William P. O’Hare gives an analysis of how a new U.S. Census Bureau method, Differential Privacy (DP), will impact the accuracy of data for children. This report gives a basic understanding of the potential magnitude of errors for smaller geographic areas, such as Unified School Districts, after DP is applied. Stakeholders, child advocates, and data users should take advantage of this opportunity to communicate their thoughts to the Census Bureau before a final decision is made. Let the Census Bureau know how the errors injected by DP are likely to impact your work and effect the lives of children in your state or community.

Thoughts and reactions to the data based on the DP file issued in April 2021 are due by May 28, 2021. Comments and responses can be sent to
2020DAS@census.gov. It would help if you put “April 2021 Demonstration Data” in the subject line of the email.

You can view the report here.