The Smart Data Donation Service

Every day, billions of people generate data through their interactions with digital technology – from fitness trackers and smart watches to social media platforms and video streaming services. The UK Smart Data Donation Service (SDDS) is a nationwide initiative that builds the tools and infrastructure to let people donate this data securely for scientific research. The project develops trustworthy technology that enables members of the public to exercise their data portability rights, access their personal data held by companies like Google and TikTok, and contribute it to research that addresses society’s biggest challenges. In return, donors receive insights into their own digital behaviour. On the research side, the SDDS provides access to large-scale, real-world datasets that are otherwise difficult for researchers to obtain – enabling faster, more representative, and more impactful work across areas such as health, wellbeing, and digital culture. The SDU Metaverse Lab contributes expertise in large-scale data analytics and digital behaviour research to the SDDS consortium.