Data Security

Data security is a fundamental requirement in projects involving visual data, as images, photographs, and videos often contain identifiable and sensitive personal data. When planning for data sharing and possible inclusion in open data environments, it is essential to ensure that visual data are stored in trusted repositories that provide robust cybersecurity standards, including encryption, secure authentication procedures, controlled access, version control, and long-term preservation. These infrastructures help prevent unauthorized access, data breaches, manipulation, or loss, while enabling responsible data dissemination.

Repositories should comply with applicable data protection requirements, support appropriate file formats and sizes, and allow for differentiated access levels where full openness is not suitable. This is particularly relevant in open data contexts, where not all materials can or should be made fully accessible. Careful consideration must therefore be given to defining levels of access and conditions for reuse.

Special attention should be paid to the documentation accompanying visual materials. Comprehensive metadata should ensure traceability, proper attribution, and contextual understanding, while clearly indicating any consent conditions, sensitivity concerns, or restrictions on reuse. This is essential to enable meaningful and responsible reuse of data without compromising the rights of individuals.

Researchers should also allocate adequate resources for secure data preparation and management, including metadata creation, documentation, and the anonymization or selective sharing of materials where full open access is not appropriate. A proactive and integrated approach to data security supports both regulatory compliance and ethically sound open data practices.