Facilitating Donated Data

# Facilitating Donated Data
            Jarno Rantaharju - May 20, 2025

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            ## Data Collection

- There are many issues regarding personal data
            
            Such as
              - how do we get more of it?

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## Data Collection

<div style="display: flex;">
              <div style="flex: 0.7; padding-right: 0px;">
                <img src="watch.jpeg" alt="Picture of a Google Maps Timeline" style="width: 50%;">                
              </div>
              <div style="flex: 1.3;">
                <ul>
                  <li>Takes time, expensive</li>
                  <li>Requires effort from participants</li>
                  <li>Affects subject's behavior</li>
                  <li>The data is only collected after the study starts</li>
                </ul>
              </div>
            </div>

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## Data Already Exists
            
            <div style="display: flex;">
            <div style="flex: 1; padding-right: 20px;">
              <ul>
                <li>Thanks to GDPR and similar regulations, we have access to a trove of data</li>
              </ul>
            </div>
            <div style="flex: 1;">
                <img src="timeline.jpeg" alt="Picture of a Google Maps Timeline" style="width: 60%;">
            </div>
            </div>

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## Data Already Exists

<div style="display: flex;">
              <div style="flex: 1; padding-right: 20px;">
                <ul>
                  <li>The data is collected anyway, we just need to ask for it</li>
                  <li>Reduces the burden on the subject</li>
                  <li>Authentic behavior</li>
                  <li>Different selection bias</li>
                </ul>
              </div>
              <div style="flex: 1;">
                  <img src="timeline.jpeg" alt="Picture of a Google Maps Timeline" style="width: 60%;">
              </div>
              </div>

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## Real World Applications

- Binge-Watching Netflix? Insights From Data Donations
              - https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.9362
              - Using [PORT software](https://github.com/eyra/port)
              - Binge watching is not as common as the hype suggested

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## Real World Applications

- Instagram Use Among Adolescents
              - https://doi.org/10.1080/19312458.2022.2109608

- TikTok User Behavior Analysis
              - https://ar5iv.labs.arxiv.org/html/2301.04945

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## Real World Applications

- More accurate picture than self-reports or scraping

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## Demonstration

- Let's take a look at the [Google Takeout](https://takeout.google.com/) page

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## Demonstration

- [Participant support extension](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/google-takeout-helper/khopbdleacpmohfcjpmkilmnfhnaooik)
              - Unlisted but public with this link

- Study page
              - [Example Django page](https://github.com/digitraceslab/google_takeout_export)
              - Provides `api/takeout_items/`

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## Demonstration

- Requesting data
            - Downloading and uploading

- Move to Jupyter
              - (see location_to_map.ipynb in the repository)
            - Load location data using Niimpy, inspect
            - Plot a route on a map
            - Showcase social signature
            
            ---

## Data processing

- Server side processing:
              - The subject uploads the full data file
              - We reduce the data on the server and pseudonymize
              - The reduced data is copied to the researchers

- Other options:
              - Client side processing: [PORT software](https://github.com/eyra/port)
                - Requires a more from the subject
                - Improves privacy, no third party data processor

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## Privacy

- This is very personal data
            - Pseudonymized, but often easily identifiable
            - Already stored by a third party

- Key principles:
              - Data minimization
              - Purpose limitation
              - Informed consent
              - Secure storage and transmission

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## Questions?