Community feedback invited on the Sensitive Data IG poster proposal for RDAP17

We warmly invite communty feedback on the  Sensitive Data IG poster proposal for RDAP17. The text is provided below and a word document is also attached to this post. 

Please provide any feedback by Tuesday 12:00:00UTC.

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SD poster proposal RDAP17 (20-22 April 2021)

Title: RDA Sensitive Data Interest Group: Goals and Road Map

Authors: all Sensitive data Interest Group members, (...)  and 3 ERINHA CCU members

Submitter: Romain David (ERINHA), 0000-0003-4073-7456

Possible list of authors (only if they declare they want to participate… add yours!)

Dharma Akmon (University of Michigan), 0000-0002-1359-0586

Nichola Burton (ARDC),

Romain David (ERINHA), 0000-0003-4073-7456

Steven McEachern (Australian Data Archive), 0000-0001-7848-4912

Aleksandra Michalewicz (University of Melbourne), 0000-0002-7328-2470

Priyanka Pillai (University of Melbourne)

Hervé Raoul (ERINHA)

Audrey Richard (ERINHA)

Keith Russell (ARDC)

Kristal Spreadborough (University of Melbourne), 0000-0002-7022-3213

Diana Stepanyan (ERINHA)

Frankie Stevens (AARNet), 0000-0002-2556-473X

Key words

Sensitive data, data sharing, sensitive data access

Abstract

As sensitive data are increasingly used for research purposes, reducing the risk of data misuse has become particularly crucial. At the same time, as demonstrated during the COVID19 crisis, sharing high-quality data is a sine qua non to assess and compare research results and to leverage data to their fullest capacity.

The Sensitive Data Interest Group aims to promote the FAIR principles and reproducible research, while drawing attention to the unique risks associated with sensitive data and exploring mitigation strategies for these risks. Synthesis research that aggregates data at large scales often uses several kinds of sensitive data, but the ethical and legal issues are often not fully addressed, especially when harmonising differing ethical and legal considerations across regions. Further complicating matters, “sensitive data” are often not even defined in the same way. As a result, reproducing research in different regions or contexts is often difficult, and sensitive data sharing processes are not well sustained.

In this poster, our group proposes the following working definition of sensitive data, adapted from David et al., 2020, “Templates for FAIRness evaluation criteria - RDA-SHARC IG” https://zenodo.org/record/3922069#.YCJU7ehKg2w  :

Information that is regulated by law due to possible risk for plants, animals, individuals and/or communities and for public and private organisations. Sensitive personal data include information related to racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership and data concerning the health or sex life of an individual. These data that could be identifiable and potentially cause harm through their disclosure. For local and government authorities, sensitive data is related to security (political, diplomatic, military data, biohazard concerns, etc.), environmental risks (nuclear or other sensitive installations, for example) or environmental preservation (habitats, protected fauna or flora, in particular). The sensitive data of a private body concerns in particular strategic elements or elements likely to jeopardise its competitiveness.

Our Sensitive Data IG will workshop this definition and present a summary of the aims of the group and our charter under the RDA validation process. Through the Sensitive Data IG, we aim to provide a forum for a range of communities to share their requirements and jointly develop strategies, support, recommendations and guidelines relevant to sensitive data. We propose to define common goals around how to responsibly disseminate, aggregate, and use preexisting heterogeneous sensitive data at a global scale. This group will partner with other IGs and WGs to produce recommendations and guidelines around sensitive data. We welcome participation and contributions from the entire RDA community and more broadly.