A Survey on the use of Federated Learning in Privacy-Preserving Recommender Systems

Abstract

In the age of information overload, recommender systems have emerged as essential tools, assisting users in decision-making processes by offering personalized suggestions. However, their effectiveness is contingent on the availability of large amounts of user data, raising significant privacy and security concerns. This review article presents an extended analysis of recommender systems, elucidating their importance and the growing apprehensions regarding privacy and data security. Federated Learning (FL), a privacy-preserving machine learning approach, is introduced as a potential solution to these challenges. Consequently, the potential benefits and implications of integrating FL with recommender systems are explored and an overview of FL, its types, and key components, are provided. Further, the privacy-preserving techniques inherent to FL are discussed, demonstrating how they contribute to secure recommender systems. By illustrating case studies and significant research contributions, the article showcases the practical feasibility and benefits of combining FL with recommender systems. Despite the promising benefits, challenges, and limitations exist in the practical deployment of FL in recommender systems. This review outlines these hurdles, bringing to light the security considerations crucial in this context and offering a balanced perspective. In conclusion, the article signifies the potential of FL in transforming recommender systems, paving the path for future research directions in this intersection of technologies.