NOMINATION HIGHLIGHTS

The importance of personal data protection continues to grow. In particular, as the use of video and image data in digital environments increases, the demand for protecting personally identifiable information is also intensifying. Cloudbric Mask is an AI-based automatic personal data masking service designed to meet these evolving requirements.

Achievements: Easy Visual Data Security

Article 4(1) of the GDPR defines personal data as “any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person,” which includes visual information capable of identifying individuals, such as CCTV footage or personal photographs posted on websites. Furthermore, Article 5(1) stipulates that personal data must be processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security, indicating that de-identification measures can serve as an important safeguard in the process of disclosing or distributing videos and images.

However, manually identifying and applying blur effects to faces or vehicle license plates in videos and photographs is a task that demands considerable time and technical proficiency. For instance, processing footage featuring multiple individuals or lengthy CCTV recordings through manual means presents significant challenges. Cloudbric Mask is a video and image de-identification (blur/mosaic) service developed to address these challenges, enabling users to protect personally identifiable information exposed in images and videos with ease.

Innovation: AI-Based De-identification

Cloudbric Mask leverages AI-based object detection technology to automatically recognize and apply de-identification effects to areas such as faces and vehicle license plates, significantly reducing the burden of manual processing. It also provides an intuitive web-based UI that allows users to perform de-identification tasks with ease, without requiring specialized editing skills, while supporting an environment where processing results can be immediately reviewed and adjusted. This enables users to minimize the risk of personal data breaches and portrait rights infringement, and to effectively fulfill the legal and ethical responsibilities required in the use of video and image content.

Impact: A Visual Data Protection Solution Available Worldwide

Cloudbric Mask currently supports multiple languages, including English, Japanese, and Korean, and has been developed to be freely accessible to anyone in need of personal data protection. Going forward, the service plans to enhance its functionality by allowing users to specify the de-identification format, intensity, and scope of de-identified areas, thereby supporting more granular personalization settings. Additionally, efforts will be made to strengthen the application of customized de-identification policies tailored to diverse industry environments, including public institutions, education, media, and corporate communications.