In one way or another, internet platforms have provided the means for users to download and erase their data.
Going a step forward, Google, Facebook, Twitter and Microsoft have teamed up and launched Data Transfer Project (DTP). The open-source initiative is meant to create a flexible "data portability ecosystem", allowing users to move their data from one platform to the other with ease.
What this means, users can directly transfer their data between the participating online services.
For example, if they want to leave Facebook and join Twitter, the DTP tool will help them in doing that by erasing every existing data on Facebook and transfer that data to Twitter.
Google, Facebook, Twitter and Microsoft have published a research paper which describes that DTP supports existing standards like REST and OAuth where possible.
The open-source effort is dedicated to building tools that aim for users, enabling them to transfer information from one service to another without having to download and re-upload it, explained Google. The search giant first mentioned the project when it was preparing for GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).
To make this happen, all participants involved with DTP create their own tools to convert their service's proprietary APIs, to standardize data formats. These formats which can be used by anyone, allow people to move their data between any participating services using a standard infrastructure and authorization.
Initially, the team have created adapters for seven providers and five types of user data, according to Google.
DTP is made up of three main components:
- The data models or frameworks that create a common understanding of how to transfer data. Data models are grouped in different verticals; for example, photos, emails, contacts, and so forth.
Each vertical has its own set of data models to facilitate transfer of related file types. The music vertical, for example, may have models for playlists, songs, or music videos. DTP uses common data models to lessen the needs for participant services to maintain and update their proprietary APIs.
- Specific adapters for data and authentication. These adapters consist of codes that translate a provider's APIs into data models.
Adapters come in two pairs: the first is an exporter that translates a provider's API into the data model; and the second is an importer that translates data model into the API. There is also an authentication adapter which allows users to log in into their accounts before moving their data.
- Task management libraries process background tasks, call the adapters, secure data storage, retry logic, handle failure, show individual notifications and so forth.. DTP has task management libraries as a reference implementation for how to use the adapters for transferring data between services.
As for security and privacy, all services involved with the project are required to agree to data transfer between their platforms, and require users to independently authenticate each of their account. The authorization mechanisms are up to the participants, as they can choose any form in their existing security infrastructure.
The data and credentials are encrypted in both transit and at rest, explained Google.
And to further enhance security, the DTP tool relies on a platform described by Google as "perfect forward secrecy" since it generates a new unique key for each transfer.
The partnership is indeed a welcome move. It's interesting because the tech giants involved know that in the heat of GDPR, data sharing is somehow a sensitive subject. What's more, Facebook and Google have been at the center of news involving how they use users' information.
However, with them breaking down the barriers for data transfer, it should make things easier for users and companies in the wake of GDPR, which requires platforms to provide all available information on individual users.
The four technology giants are expecting others to also become DTP's participants, to further enhance data portability, and benefiting more users if more service providers agree to join.