Data Privacy Research

Remember is built on a platform of Data Privacy, ensuring all memories are safe and secure. The platform is rooted in research on the best data principles for users to feel in control of their data. The platform utilises the Usage Control Model of data privacy, ensuring that you as a user are always in control.

Read the Full Research (PDF)

Many people feel as if they have little control over data collected about themby companies . . .

% of US Adults who say . . .

81%

Lack of Control

They have very little / no control over the data companies collect.

81%

Risk Outweighs Benefits

Potential risks of companies collecting data about them outweigh the benefits.

79%

Concern over Data Use

They are very / somewhat concerned about how companies use the data collected.

59%

Lack of Understanding

They have very little / no understanding about what companies do with the data collected.

From "Americans and Privacy: Concerned, Confused and Feeling Lack of Control Over Their Personal Information," ed:

Pew Research Center, 2019.

Threat of Hacking

"they steal information and hack your data, because technology is like an ocean. Even if you're a master of it, somebody will I mean like if they have a bad intention they can harm you"

- Focus Group Participant

so when sharing your memories . . .

Our memories are important to us as individuals. But they also help us bond and feel connected with those around us. To share our memories with others digitally, we have to consider many questions.

Subjects

Who owns the digital files?

Who has access?

Rules

Can they view?

Can they copy?

Can they make changes?

Objects

Is this a Private or Public Memory?

Conditions

What kinds of restrictions do they have?

Rights

How do we make sure that only they have access?

Obligations

What must they do before or while accessing the digital files?

Remember
Usage Control Model (UCON)

Ensuring you are the Owner of your Data

Unlike other Data Privacy Models, Remember UCON is designed so that you are always in control of your data. You can choose who, what, when, where, and how other's access and store your data, including the Remember Platform itself.

A Privacy Policy built by Users

Research participants designed their own privacy policies to protect their memory environments as they shared them with friends and family. These 'Places' and 'People' aligned with the 'Subjects' and 'Objects' of the UCON Privacy Model.

Participants used both Pre-Written and Custom Privacy components (see right) to build their own privacy models. After each group completed their models, they were asked to explain and give justification to why they chose the safety components.

Key Findings

Privacy Is Important

This research highlights how important it is to keep personal memories private. The people involved in designing a platform for sharing memories were mainly concerned about the sensitivity of these memories. They wanted to have control over how their personal memories are collected, stored, and shared. The focus was on deciding who gets to see their memories.

To address this, the study suggests putting rules in place so users can control when, how, and by whom their memories are accessed. In the future, it recommends making digital systems that prioritize users' control and recognize them as the true owners of their data, allowing them to manage it independently on platforms.

Tracking and Usage

Users consistently express a desire to know how their data is utilized, a sentiment evident across various platforms, as highlighted in the analysis of Privacy Notices. To foster this understanding, robust privacy policies must be easily accessible, provide user control, and be consistently enforced. This ensures that users can trust the platform and the entities handling their data.

In this study, co-designers emphasized trust as a crucial element when sharing memory data. They implemented conditions and obligations to monitor data usage, aligning with the Privacy by Design principle. Users should trust that their data is used responsibly and in accordance with the rules set by the data owner. Regular and comprehensive tracking and usage reports further contribute to building and maintaining this trust.

Familiar Security Precautions

To foster trust and maintain control over their data, co-designers in this study preferred familiar tools, even when offered the option to create new ones. This choice reflects their awareness of data privacy and reliance on proven practices. User-centered privacy systems should prioritize tools that are effective, simple, and familiar to users, drawing from their existing experiences.

The study suggests that these tools need not be exclusively digital, as analog options like passwords or security questions can also be effective. Bridging the gap between the physical and digital realms, designers should explore adapting tools from users' everyday lives for digital privacy measures.