Working with Sensitive Data

Data that contains identifying information, such as names and contact details, needs to comply with privacy laws and be carefully managed through access controls and data security measures.

It’s possible to reduce the identifiability of data through techniques referred to as “de-identification“, “anonymisation“, or “de-personalising“. In the current age of big data and triangulation, however, there is debate over whether or not any method can reliably ensure the complete removal of identifiable information. This does not mean that data cannot be used or shared for research, but it does mean that well-defined approaches for managing and working with data must be implemented.

Data about First Nations peoples constitutes complex legal and ethical terrain and can relate to cultural, linguistic, medical or other factors. This data needs to be managed and shared with care and with consideration of self-determination and the right of Indigenous people to have a say about managing their cultural heritage in ways that are meaningful to them.

If your research involves handling, managing or analysing Indigenous data, you should consider applying the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance.

Health data can have significant benefits. For example, clinical trials data can lead to insights about the effectiveness of health interventions and therapies, which allows for health guidelines and treatments to be improved. However, the sharing and reuse of health data are often limited by diverse approaches to data governance and management.

Ecological data is central to research and policy on such pressing environmental issues as biodiversity and climate change, but it may be sensitive and restricted if it reveals the location of rare, endangered or commercially valuable species, or other conservation efforts. In addition, biodiversity datasets may contain information that may compromise people, personal property or landholdings.