D.5. Other considerations
15.52. It is good practice for compilers to evaluate the validity of reported data and establish checking procedures in the context of FATS (e.g., registers, etc.). Survey processing staff will need to evaluate the reported data to ensure accuracy, consistency and reasonableness, and that is particularly relevant for FATS. Many of the techniques will be related to the usual work expected from compilers in other statistical domains. For compilers who have chosen such a solution for gathering FATS data, the strong link between the SBS and inward FATS should be taken into consideration when validating the data. Consistency of information, in particular for the identification of the population or UCI could be ensured by checking with other registers that some compilers may have at hand, for example registers of enterprise groups or foreign-owned enterprises. More information on evaluating the validity of reported data are available in chapter 19.
15.53. In most countries, there are legislative requirements for confidentiality that necessitate avoiding the disclosure of information, and those requirements would also naturally apply to FATS. Multinational companies that, by definition, are involved with FDI and FATS may be particularly sensitive about such matters for competitive reasons. Even countries with mandatory FDI and FATS data collection maintain strict confidentiality. This is particularly relevant given the granularity of the data obtained through the compilation system, i.e., breakdowns by detailed country, detailed activity and product.
15.54. For example, when compiling data by activity (e.g., according to ICFA rev.1 categories) categories may sometimes have to be suppressed (that is, not separately shown) so as to preserve the confidentiality of those data for individual companies. The need for suppression occurs most often at the most detailed level of the classification, when smaller countries are involved or in cases in which the data are cross-classified by country or area. Other possibilities exist to ensure confidentiality of information, such as perturbation techniques, which may be sufficient to mask individual responses and increase the utility of the statistics for the analysts. The compiler should therefore identify appropriate techniques for ensuring the confidentially of data reported by individual companies (see chapter 20 for further details on dissemination and confidentiality issues).
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