DataFleets keeps private data useful and useful data private with federated learning and $4.5M seed
Summary
DataFleets promises a new approach by which databases can be safely accessed and analyzed without the possibility of privacy breaches or abuse — and has raised a $4.5 million seed round to scale it up. DataFleets acts as a sort of trusted messenger between the platforms, undertaking the analysis on behalf of others and never retaining or transferring any sensitive data. For instance, one of the big issues today in combating COVID-19 is that hospitals, health authorities, and other organizations around the world are having difficulty, despite their willingness, in securely sharing data relating to the virus. Because the data never leaves its "home," this approach is essentially anonymous and thus highly compliant with regulations like HIPAA and GDPR, another big advantage. Elledge notes: "Were being used by leading healthcare institutions who recognize that HIPAA doesnt give them enough protection when they are making a data set available for third parties."