Nearly eight in ten (77%) Flemish people are convinced that internet companies do not have the best intentions with the data they collect and are mainly concerned with their own profit, new research conducted by the VUB and UGent shows.
The first edition of SolidMonitor – an online survey of 2,500 Flemish people into privacy, personal data and data safes – showed that 63% are concerned about their online privacy, 73% are disturbed by the fact that companies are not transparent about what data they own and collect and 72% agree with the statement that citizens no longer have control over which personal information is collected and used.
“Data has an image problem, largely down to international – and recently also local – data breaches," said Professor Ralf De Wolf (imec). "At the same time, people paradoxically want to reap the benefits of everything that is made possible by sharing data."
Just think of administrative comfort when moving, applying online or comparing energy contracts, he pointed out. "The solution is sharing data in a radically different way, with more control and transparency and with clear benefits for citizens. A 'personal data vault' is such a radically different way."
Boosting innovation, securing trust
Almost a quarter of Flemish people have completely given up the fight to protect their personal data but the research results show that "personal data vaults" can offer a solution to restore trust: they allow people to store their personal data and easily decide who they share it with and for how long.
Two-thirds of respondents indicate that such a data vault could give them a sense of control. Nearly half (49%) of respondents see themselves using a personal data vault in the near future. Personal data vaults designed according to the "Solid" specifications ensure that data and apps are disconnected from each other, which could herald a break in the trend: many internet companies will be less inclined to create large databases of personal data.
That data can remain in a personal safe that the user can give certain companies – and their apps – (temporary) access to, in exchange for a service. That way, these data vaults can help develop disruptive innovative services in media, healthcare and government services.
"By integrating Solid into the data utility company, Flanders is playing a pioneering role worldwide," Flemish Innovation Minister Jo Brouns said. "Strong protection of personal data will generate more confidence in data sharing. This will boost innovation in Flanders and our data economy.”
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This also means that data would no longer be locked up with a handful of large international players, but will be used as a reusable raw material by the organisations that you, as a user, trust. An additional advantage is if some of your data changes, such as your address for example, you only have to change it once, for all services you use.
This spring, the Flemish government is launching the 'Data utility Company': an externally independent agency that is part of the Flemish Resilience recovery project and was set up as a neutral traffic interchange that should ensure that data can flow smoothly between government, companies and the secure data vaults of citizens.
"Data and innovation are the raw materials of the future. Flanders must absolutely invest in this if it wants to remain one of the most innovative regions in the world," said Flemish Minister-President Jan Jambon. "The Flemish Government is making the Solid data vault a priority in its Flanders Technology & Innovation project."
With the vault, Jambon hopes to boost the confidence of Flemish people in the data society by giving them more control over their own data.
