Digital Professionalism

Table of Contents

1. About this resource
2. Introduction
3. Module 1: Your Digital Footprint
4. Module 2: Managing your Footprint
5. Module 3: Legal Obligations
   1. Libel [1]
   2. Libel [2]
   3. Data Protection [1]
   4. Data Protection [2]
   5. Data Protection [3]
   6. Copyright Infringement [1]
   7. Copyright Infringement [2]
6. Summary

Data Protection [1]

Scenario 9.1

Sonia wants to use a real life case she has encountered as part of her dissertation write-up. She has documents and photographs relating to the case. On the participant information consent form she informed the research participants that any data published as part of the research would be anonymised

She has heard that when it comes to anonymisation of data, the legal test that her write up must pass is called "the determined intruder". This means that if someone got hold of one piece of information and was determined enough, how likely is it that they could get to the other pieces of the "jigsaw" to put together personal data that would identify the individual. If a determined individual could establish who this subject is, well then it is not anonymous and should not be used.

1

How would you advise Sonia in this situation? a) She can use the first name, ethnicity and general location (not full address) of the subject. b) She can use a photo of the subject, with all other details of the case thoroughly anonymised. c) Sonia can use a full, detailed, accurate description of the case, but with little anonymisation of the detail of the subject. d) Sonia can use anonymised details about the subject but include her full personal assessments and test results. Please select an answerThis is not appropriate as it could be easy to establish exactly who the subject is. Even if the area where the subject lives in is densely populated, if her first name, ethnicity or case is unusual, it could be easy for someone to establish exactly who this subject is. Only if informed, written consent has been given for a photograph, the photo has been anonymised (if required), meta data removed from the image so that time, date, geographical location etc cannot be extracted from the image later. Only if details of the case are suitably obscured and the individual thoroughly anonymised. The question to ask is how unique is the case and to take measures accordingly.Only if appropriately anonymised and it has been made impossible for a determined individual to establish who the subject is.