Comment by MBCook

The other answers here are great, but let’s say you’re right.

If you release a whole DB of data you’re going to have a hard time covering something you removed up in such a way that it’s not noticeable. Gaps in keys, suspiciously missing data for certain queries, etc.

Even if you do that perfectly, there are other data sources to compare to. If the city said it issued 2500 parking tickets and made $7500 in January on some financial report and the DB disagrees you have proof something is going on.

Or you could crowd source people’s parking tickets to compare to the DB to see if everything matches. What happens if one doesn’t? If one’s missing but the person had the proof they paid it?

It could still prove useful.