Definition
An API (Application Programming Interface) is a structured set of rules, protocols and tools that enable software components or systems to communicate with each other in a standardized, programmable way. APIs allow third-party access to functionalities, services or data layers without revealing internal implementation details.
In the context of image and video anonymization, APIs provide programmatic access to functionalities such as face detection, object masking, sensitive zone blurring, biometric analysis, metadata pseudonymization and result orchestration.
Role of API in visual data anonymization
APIs act as the integration layer between video/image storage systems (e.g. surveillance, DAM, cloud platforms) and processing modules that apply data protection regulations (e.g. GDPR). They allow:
- triggering anonymization workflows remotely,
- configuring processing parameters,
- queuing and batch-processing files,
- integrating with logging and audit systems.
Key technical parameters and metrics
Attribute | Description | Typical values |
Communication method | Protocol used | HTTP, HTTPS, WebSocket |
Data format | Payload structure | JSON, XML, Protobuf |
Authorization | Access control mechanism | OAuth 2.0, JWT, API Keys |
Latency | Average response time | 50–300 ms |
Rate limit | Max requests per time unit | 100–10,000 req/min |
Supported data types | File formats | JPEG, PNG, MP4, WebM |
Advantages of API in anonymization pipelines
- Automation – complete control of processing flow without manual intervention.
- Scalability – easy to integrate with large-scale data processing architectures.
- Flexibility – customizable parameters (e.g. blur strength, object types).
- Auditability – all API calls can be logged, enabling full compliance traceability.
Challenges and limitations of API usage
- Security – APIs must be protected with encryption, authentication and usage quotas.
- Regulatory compliance – transmitted data may include personal information; requires lawful basis and DPIA.
- Bandwidth and latency – large video files may need optimization via streaming or parallel requests.
- Version control – evolving APIs may require clients to adapt and migrate.
Example use cases
- Automatic anonymization of city surveillance camera feeds.
- Integration with media management systems for compliant publishing workflows.
- Serving Data Protection Officers (DPOs) requests for anonymization of archived content.
- Exposing anonymization services to third-party vendors securely via API.
Normative references and documentation
- RESTful API Design Rulebook – Mark Masse, O’Reilly (2011)
- OpenAPI Specification v3.1.0 – Linux Foundation (2021)
- ISO/IEC 30170:2022 – API Interoperability and Conformance Testing
- GDPR Articles 25, 32, 35 – privacy by design, security of processing, DPIA