Abstract: A method for privacy preserving data processing in a linked data operating environment wherein applications have secure and permissioned access in an interoperable manner to data that is stored in one or more online data stores. The method begins by creating a privacy preserving data processing (PPDP) agent for use by an entity to process the data in association with the online data stores. The PPDP agent is then subjected to a certification process that ensures that the PPDP agent does not exfiltrate any data from the online data stores. After a successful certification, and following registration of the agent with an agent repository, a secure PPDP environment is instantiated in association with the data stores and in which the PPDP agent is then configured to execute. The PPDP agent is then executed within the secure PPDP environment over a configured security context and life-cycle of the PPDP agent.