HelloData goes MyData 2017

At the heart of MyData 2017 was the Declaration, a proclamation that anyone could sign if they agreed with what it said. The Declaration discusses how we as private individuals can profit from sharing personal data. And ‘profit’ doesn’t necessarily mean you have to earn money from it — making your data available will give you useful insights. Take the energy sector: when you make your data available to service providers, they can provide services tailored to your personal situation, so that you really can manage your energy smarter. That saves you money, allows grid operators to match supply & demand much better, and allows society to maintain access to energy.

Let’s look at how HelloData stacks up against the MyData declaration

1. MyData shifts: what needs to change?

The consumer must be authorized to use their personal data whenever they want to. They must be able to share their data securely and on their own terms. It’s up to the consumer to choose which services they want to use and from which provider. A transaction must take place in a transparent way, and only with the unequivocal consent of the consumer.

In HelloData’s case, we see that our infrastructure does allow the consumer to have control over their data: they determine what data they share, when and with whom. With HelloData, they can also keep an eye on who receives their data, and can withdraw such permissions.

2. MyData roles: who does what?

Individual: An individual can manage their personal data for their own purposes. They maintain relationships with other individuals, services or organizations.
Data source: a source that collects and processes personal data. Other roles will want access to the data to use it.
Data using service: a data service can be authorized to retrieve personal data from one or more sources.
Personal data operator: enables individuals to access personal data in a secure way and will also manage the control of data streams between data sources and data services. An individual can also be an operator. Operators don’t use the information themselves, but enable connectivity and the secure sharing of data between the other roles in the ecosystem.

At HelloData, we see a clear role for ourselves as data operator. We enable connectivity between resources and services, by making it easier to use energy data with the unequivocal consent of the individual. Authorization having been given, data flows directly from data source to data-using service.

Roles within the MyData infrastructure

3. MyData principles: what do we want to achieve?

1. Human-centric control of personal data: the individual must be empowered to determine for themselves how they share their data, for what period, for what purpose, and with whom. They must at all times have the opportunity to grant or withdraw their permission to receive data. Privacy, security and minimalization (only that data that is needed is saved) must be the default for data sharing.
   HelloData principle: Control. The HelloData infrastructure allows consumers to have control over their data. The user determines what data they share, and with whom. Via the permissions register, they can grant and withdraw permission to services such as apps. With the permission of the consumer, HelloData makes it possible to send data in a secure way directly from sensor to app.
2. Individual as the point of integration: the value of personal data is growing, but with it the threat to our privacy. This discrepancy can only be resolved once individuals become ‘hubs’ and can at any time see who has access to their data and what it is being used for (a kind of 360-degree overview of your personal data). MyData wants to enable a new generation of products & services with in-depth personalization and new, data-based knowledge, without compromising in terms of privacy.
   HelloData principle: Anonymity. The user has a right to their privacy. Only they know what data they share and with whom. HelloData does not store any usable energy data; the user cannot be identified. This ensures the user remains anonymous.
3. Individual empowerment: Individuals must be empowered to safely manage their personal data. They must be able to determine their own goals, and where they do and don’t share their data. MyData wants to provide individuals with the right tools, skills and support to transform personal data into useful information, knowledge and the autonomy to make decisions. Only then can there be fair and mutually beneficial relationships between all parties.
   HelloData principle: Connectivity and freedom of choice. Increasing the connectivity between data sources and data services creates a level playing field. Leading to new, innovative services that genuinely match the wishes and needs of consumers. If a service ceases to meet someone’s needs, they can withdraw permission for that service to receive data. This gives consumers autonomy and freedom of choice in services that best suit them at that moment.
4. Portability, acces and re-use: the portability of personal data enables individuals to obtain and reuse their data for other services and purposes. Individuals must be able to download their personal data themselves and forward it to other services. Data sources must be able to deliver data in a secure and simple way, and in a structured and standardized format.
   Until a standard exists that the energy playing field embraces, HelloData will facilitate the translation of different data sources. Allowing service providers to easily use this data and offer services. By using a standardized format, data can easily be transported from one service to another. This increases the portability and reuse of data (when agreed to by the consumer).
5. Transparency and accountability: Organizations that use personal data must notify the individual in a transparent manner of what they are doing with that data, and why; and also take responsibility by adhering to this agreement. Privacy statements must reflect the actual situation, so that individuals can make an informed choice, and understand how and why decisions are made based on their data.
   Transparency is the key to obtaining consumer cooperation. Only if parties are transparent and fair can we develop an ecosystem that will benefit everyone. HelloData wants, in collaboration with all the various parties operating in the energy playing field, to establish a new standard in data sharing: a transparent ecosystem in which each party that has a role to play accepts its own responsibilities.
6. Interoperability: Interoperability must prevent lock-in situations occurring. We need to move to a common standard for data sharing. Working together towards an open ecosystem with open protocols and applications, and an open infrastructure, so that all data becomes portable and can be reused without any loss of control.
   HelloData is an independent party and looks after the interests of everyone in the energy playing field. Creating a level playing field makes possible connectivity between different products and services, which in turn will result in diversity both in what’s on offer to consumers and in their freedom of choice. Moreover, HelloData intends to offer its protocol open source. Let’s work together to change energy.

As you may already have guessed, we have signed the declaration. How about you…?

More about HelloData? Check our website.