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Metadata-aware RAG for Enforcing Access Control and Metadata-based Filtering: Proof of Concept and Evaluation

Bingxiang Chen, Toni Taipalus

Research in Adaptive and Convergent Systems, 2025

2 citations

Abstract

Organizations are integrating Large Language Models with internal knowledge bases to enhance knowledge retrieval and decision support. However, applying Retrieval-Augmented Generation systems in domains with sensitive data presents challenges such as weak or insufficient access control, inadequate metadata filtering, and lower precision or answer relevancy in the retrieved responses. For example, without proper access control mechanisms, sensitive patient information could be inadvertently exposed to unauthorized users. Furthermore, inadequate metadata filtering can lead to the retrieval of irrelevant or incomplete information, which reduces the accuracy and relevance of the response. This paper proposes a novel framework that integrates Metadata Filtering with fine-grained Role-Based Access Control to ensure both secure and accurate retrieval. By allowing metadata to serve as both a filtering mechanism and an enforcement tool, the system narrows search results while maintaining compliance and accountability. A proof-of-concept implementation using patient profile data demonstrates its effectiveness in secure AI-driven knowledge management.

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