Distributed Least-Squares Optimization Solvers with Differential Privacy Study

Основні поняття

This paper introduces two distributed solvers for least-squares optimization problems with differential privacy requirements. The first solver perturbs parameters using Gaussian and truncated Laplacian noises, while the second combines shuffling mechanisms and average consensus algorithms to achieve privacy-preserving solutions.

Анотація

This study presents two novel distributed solvers for least-squares optimization problems with differential privacy constraints. The first solver utilizes Gaussian and truncated Laplacian noises to perturb parameters, while the second solver employs shuffling mechanisms and average consensus algorithms. Both approaches aim to preserve privacy while ensuring computation accuracy, making them suitable for large-scale distributed optimization tasks.
The paper discusses the challenges of preserving privacy in distributed optimization scenarios where local cost functions may contain sensitive data. It highlights the importance of differential privacy in protecting information during communication processes among network agents.
Two distinct solvers are proposed: the DP-GT-based solver and the DP-DiShuf-AC-based Solver. The former focuses on perturbing gradient tracking algorithms, showcasing a trade-off between privacy levels and computation accuracy dependent on network size. In contrast, the latter leverages shuffling mechanisms to achieve differential privacy guarantees independently of network size.
Numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of both solvers in solving least-squares optimization problems while preserving privacy. The results indicate that the DP-DiShuf-AC-based solver offers better computation accuracy under varying levels of differential privacy requirements.
The study concludes by comparing the performance of both solvers across different network sizes, highlighting their resilience to higher levels of privacy preservation and superior computation accuracy compared to traditional methods.

Статистика

For such a method, it is noted that the intrinsic property of truncated Laplacian differential privacy mechanism limits the achievable differential-privacy level.
The mean-square error between x(∞) and x∗ satisfies E∥x(∞) − x∗∥2 ≤ 2nm2σ2γ∥x∗∥2 + 2nmσ2η(1 − d)2λA.
E∥ΩA∥F = nm^2σ^2γ.
E∥ΩB∥^2 = mnσ^2η.
E[1/n Σ ∥xi(t) − x* ∥^2] decreases and exponentially converges as t increases.

Цитати

"The gradient-tracking algorithm leads to limited differential-privacy-protection ability."
"The DiShuf mechanism ensures arbitrary differential privacy requirements with better computation accuracy."
"Both solvers aim to preserve privacy while ensuring computation accuracy."

Ключові висновки, отримані з

Distributed Least-Squares Optimization Solvers with Differential Privacy

by Weijia Liu,L... о arxiv.org 03-05-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2403.01435.pdf

Глибші Запити

How can these distributed optimization algorithms be applied in real-world scenarios beyond mathematical models

The distributed optimization algorithms discussed in the context can be applied to various real-world scenarios beyond mathematical models. One practical application is in the field of machine learning, where multiple agents collaborate to train a model while preserving the privacy of their local datasets. For instance, in healthcare settings, hospitals can use these algorithms to collectively improve predictive models without sharing sensitive patient data. This approach ensures data privacy and security while benefiting from collective intelligence.
Another application is in decentralized energy systems, where different entities manage power generation and distribution. By using distributed optimization algorithms with differential privacy constraints, these entities can coordinate their actions efficiently without revealing proprietary information or compromising system security. This enables effective decision-making while maintaining confidentiality.
Furthermore, these algorithms can be utilized in smart cities for traffic management and resource allocation. By optimizing traffic flow or allocating resources based on local data shared among city departments or agencies securely through differential privacy mechanisms, cities can enhance efficiency and sustainability without risking individual privacy.

What are potential drawbacks or limitations of employing differential privacy in large-scale distributed systems

While employing differential privacy in large-scale distributed systems offers significant benefits such as protecting sensitive information and ensuring data confidentiality, there are potential drawbacks and limitations to consider:

Trade-off between Privacy and Utility: Differential privacy introduces noise into computations to protect individual data points, which may impact the accuracy of results. Balancing the level of noise added for privacy protection with maintaining utility becomes challenging as it could affect the quality of outcomes.

Scalability Issues: Implementing differential privacy mechanisms at scale across a large number of nodes or agents in distributed systems can lead to increased computational complexity and communication overhead. Managing this scalability effectively requires robust infrastructure and efficient protocols.

Complexity of Implementation: Integrating differential privacy into existing distributed optimization algorithms necessitates expertise in both cryptography and optimization techniques. Ensuring proper implementation without introducing vulnerabilities or compromising security requires specialized knowledge.

Regulatory Compliance: Adhering to regulatory requirements related to data protection laws like GDPR adds another layer of complexity when deploying differential privacy measures in large-scale systems across different jurisdictions.

Limited Protection against Advanced Attacks: While offering strong guarantees against certain types of attacks like membership inference, differential privacy may not provide absolute protection against all possible adversarial scenarios such as sophisticated reconstruction attacks.

How can advancements in secure multi-party computation enhance the effectiveness of these algorithms

Advancements in secure multi-party computation (MPC) have the potential to enhance the effectiveness of distributed optimization algorithms with differential
privacy by addressing some key challenges:
1- Improved Security Guarantees: Secure MPC protocols offer stronger cryptographic guarantees for protecting sensitive information during collaborative computations.
These protocols ensure that no single party has access to complete raw data while allowing joint analysis on encrypted inputs.
2- Reduced Communication Overhead: Advanced MPC techniques optimize communication patterns among parties involved,
reducing latency issues commonly associated with secure computation protocols.
3- Enhanced Privacy Preservation: Secure MPC enhances user control over their private information by enabling fine-grained access controls
within collaborative environments.
4-Robustness Against Malicious Actors: Secure MPC frameworks are designed to withstand malicious behaviors from participants,
ensuring that even if some parties act dishonestly or attempt unauthorized access,
overall system integrity remains intact due to cryptographic safeguards implemented within MPC schemes.
5-Compatibility with Differential Privacy Measures: Secure MPC methodologies complement well with principles underlying
differential privaciesince they operate on encrypted inputs directly,
aligning closely with concepts like input perturbation used for achieving differentially private computations.
By leveraging advancementsinsecuremulti-partycomputation,distributedoptimizationalgorithmswithdifferentialprivacycanbeenhancedtoensurehigherlevels
ofsecurityandprivacywhilemaintainingefficiencyandaccuracyinlarge-scaledistributedsystems