Gathering data - an overview

When gathering data a citizen scientists should be aware of the general conditions that would put some legal and ethical obligations on.

The first type of data is personal data. This has been defined in the applicable EU regulations as any data that may individualize a person. The main rule is that such data is owned by the individual. Hence, gathering the data and holding it must be done with the consent of the owner.

As a citizen scientist you should make a simple rule of the hand test - namely to determine if some data is personal or not. If it may be connected to an individual - such as a shoe size, preferred music or sleeping pattern - that is a personal data.

The legislation prescribes that if you gather personal data that should be done after obtaining the permission of the person concerned. The permission may be provided in written or oral form, however the former is preferred in case of any disputes arising.  Please have in mind that organizations that gather personal information without the consent of the individual may be fined by the regulators.

Importantly the individual has the right to be informed what information is collected about him/her by the organization.  Further the individual has the right to request his/her information to be deleted from the records of the organization. As a citizen scientists, you should inform the individual for his/her rights, as a matter of ethical principle. Any of the  requests by the individual (to be informed or forgotton) should be directed to the project coordinator or officer without delay.

On the other hand for a data that is not connected to individuals - such as animal behaviors or natural phenomena - there is the general ethical consideration of gathering the data in the least intrusive manner possible. The EU legislation has special provisions for ethical treatment of animals in scientific research. Those provisions extend also to citizen scientists and if not followed the organization may be penalized. In some jurisdiction portion of the penalty may be  transferred to the volunteer, who has gathered data in stark contrast with the ethical and legal norms.

Some of the gathered information may be sensitive. Sensitive data must be guarded from unauthorized access maintaining the security of an individual or organization. The organization will in most cases issue guidelines on measures appropriate to be taken by volunteers for protection of the data. However, some common sense must also be used. Posting sensitive data on social media is not a good idea.

If a breach (willingly or unwillingly) of data has become known to the volunteer, he/she must inform without delay the project coordinator or officer of the organization. In this cases it is highly advisable the communication to be  done in writing.

Lastly, there is the ethical duty to report wrongdoing. In the unlikely event that a volunteer feels the project has been gathering data in systemically unethical or dubious manner the volunteer should inform the responsible authorities. In case that personal data is collected in breach of the principles described above you should inform the local personal data protection body. In case of unethical use of the information, animal cruelty, misleading representation of the research or other improprieties there would be different regulators to address. Before logging a complaint with the authorities, however, it is advisable to seek clarification form the citizen science project first.

_{Photo Attributions: Helena Lopes from Pexels (top) Anete Lusina from Pexels (bottom)}