Exploring the Techniques and Challenges of Privacy-Preserving Data Sharing in Quantum-Enabled Networks

Abstract

Privacy-preserving data-sharing mechanisms traditionally rely on data anonymization techniques, which aim to dissociate individual records from their corresponding data subjects in order to transform sensitive information into a form that minimizes the risk of re-identification. In parallel, trust-broker models have emerged as an additional layer of protection, whereby authorized data providers disclose controlled contact information that enables potential data users to request access under predefined conditions determined by the data owner. In contemporary data-sharing environments, cryptography remains a fundamental pillar for ensuring confidentiality and integrity during data exchange. Cryptographic protection typically involves two operations: an encryption process, in which the sender transforms plaintext into ciphertext that is unintelligible to unauthorized entities, and a decryption process, in which only the intended recipient restores the ciphertext to its original form. Both operations rely on a cryptographic algorithm paired with one or more secret keys. Symmetric-key cryptography employs a single shared key for both encryption and decryption. In contrast, asymmetric cryptography uses a mathematically linked pair of keys, where one key is used for encryption and the other for decryption. When the encryption key is publicly available while the corresponding decryption key remains private, only the legitimate recipient holding the private key is capable of recovering the plaintext. This cryptographic structure forms the basis for securing data confidentiality against unauthorized access in both classical and quantum-aware communication systems.