Personal data needs to be made widely available to the public.
We’re working to create a common datatrust.
The Common Data Project is committed to democratizing access to data through the creation of a "datatrust," a new online service that allows sensitive data to be directly queried without compromising individual privacy. Through the datatrust, we hope to create a space for "common data" that allows sensitive data to be open and shared among researchers, policymakers, application developers, and the general public.
Sensitive Data: They have it, we don't.
Today, sensitive personal information is being collected from us by almost every business, organization and institution we interact with. However, we as the public have very little access to it. While businesses use our data to figure out what we'll buy, what we'll eat, and how much debt we'll pay back, the public sector has yet to harness the power of such data for itself.
Some people see this is a problem of privacy. They've advocated giving users more control over how their data is shared, or argued for barring reuses of data.
But we see this as a problem of power and access. Privacy is definitely a central issue, which is why we've worked hard on developing a measurable privacy guarantee. But we think that by focusing only on radio controls or restricting reuse, we are risking the loss of innovation. The solution is not to shut down data collection, but to democratize access to data in a way that is safe and responsible through the creation of a datatrust.
What should we do? Democratize access.
Work with us.
We can’t do this alone.
None of us, as individuals or even as organizations, have the amount of data held by Google, Microsoft, or any of the other big boys. NHANES, a national health and nutrition survey run by the CDC, includes less than 10,000 participants. Facebook has data on 2+ billion members.
Together, though, we can share what we know for the public good. Imagine government agencies be able to share public health data and not just how many laundromats are in the city. Imagine advocacy organizations being able to share real stories in quantifiable ways around issue-based campaigns. Imagine small organizations with data being able to connect with people who know what to do with data. Imagine researchers, nonprofits, policymakers, small businesses, and the public having the kind of access to sensitive data that many large corporations already have.
If you are interested in working with us to see what the datatrust could mean for your organization's data, please contact us.