What is a main risk of not performing data anonymization?

The primary risk associated with not performing data anonymization is the potential violation of individual privacy rights. Data anonymization is a process that removes or modifies personally identifiable information from datasets, ensuring that individuals cannot be re-identified or linked to their personal data. Without this protective measure, sensitive information could be exposed, leading to privacy breaches and the misuse of personal data.

When individual information is not adequately anonymized, it heightens the risk of unauthorized access and exploitation, which can have severe legal and ethical implications for organizations. Ensuring the anonymity of personal data not only protects individuals but also helps organizations comply with regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other privacy laws designed to safeguard personal information.

While the other options touch upon important aspects of data management, they do not directly address the core issue of privacy. Inaccurate data analysis results and loss of data integrity, while significant, stem from factors like poor data quality or processing errors rather than the direct failure to anonymize. Increased complexity of data management can occur in various contexts but is not as critical a risk as the potential violation of privacy rights. Therefore, the emphasis on protecting individual privacy rights underscores the importance of data anonymization in today's data-driven landscape.