What Is Narrative ID?

Overview

Narrative enables privacy-safe collaboration between companies by providing a pseudonymous identifier called the Narrative ID. This ID supports secure data sharing by replacing clear text identifiers with pseudonymous IDs, thereby eliminating the risk of revealing personal identifiers.

For more information on the Narrative ID Global Rosetta Stone Attribute, see Narrative ID.

Key Features

1. Secure Data Collaboration: Partners can utilize Narrative software to safeguard clear-text identifiers using Narrative's platform through a secure encoding process. This enables privacy-safe, secure data exchanges and cross-company linkage.
2. Flexible and Unique Identifiers: Each Narrative ID is specific to a partner, allowing precise and controlled data sharing.
3. Secure Intermediary: Narrative software, available in the Narrative cloud as well as in customer-owned data planes, acts as a trusted intermediary, handling the encoding and translation of identifiers between partners.

Definitions

• Narrative ID: A secure, pseudonymous identifier derived from a clear text identifier (like an email or hashed email) through secure encoding methodology.
• Clear Text Identifier: Original identifiers such as emails or hashed emails (e.g., SHA256 hashed emails).
• Encoding Space: Narrative Identifiers are encoded per-partner, and the identifiers particular to a specific partner can be referred to as that partner’s “encoding space.” Narrative’s software provides functionality to translate from one partner’s encoding space to another for secure collaboration.
• Match Table: A pre-generated table that pairs Narrative IDs with clear text identifiers, allowing partners to use Narrative IDs independently of the platform.

Secure Encoding Methodology

The secure encoding method Narrative employs to encode and translate Narrative ID protects privacy by converting the original identifier into a form that conceals any meaningful information about it. This encoded version cannot reveal the original data, even if observed or intercepted. As a result, anyone without authorization only sees a randomized, unrecognizable version of the identifier, safeguarding the underlying personal information and keeping it anonymous.

Narrative identifiers are encoded per-partner: the same clear text identifier encoded for one partner will not be equal to the same clear text identifier encoded for another partner. When a clear text identifier is encoded to a Narrative ID for a particular partner, we say that the Narrative ID is in their “encoding space” and it is tied to the encoding used to encode the identifier. Translating a Narrative ID from once encoding space to another is a function of the Narrative software that can be performed within the Narrative cloud or any customer-owned data plane.

NQL Commands for Crosswalk ID Operations

The following NQL commands facilitate the encoding of raw identifiers into Narrative IDs and translating them between partner-specific ID spaces. Here is a summary:

• narrative_id_encode(raw_identifier, key_id) : Turns clear text identifiers into Narrative identifiers using the referenced encoding key id.
• narrative_id_translate(narrative_id, key_id) : Translates an encoded Narrative ID from one partner to the encoding format required by another partner.

For detailed command usage, syntax, and examples, see the NQL Command Reference Documentation.

Crosswalk ID UI (COMING SOON)

You can manage Crosswalk IDs, including encoding key settings, within the Crosswalk ID section of the Narrative Platform UI. Use this interface to configure encoding keys and map datasets to Narrative IDs, ensuring a smooth and privacy-safe setup.