Our three core principles are:
We use strong encryption.
All data transferred over the internet has to be encrypted. We use strong encryption standards via Transfer Layer Security(TLS) protocol for all data exchange between our servers and the smartphone apps, interactive maps, and also for all project websites we build and run on the SPOTTERON Citizen Science platform.
We don't monetize user data.
All apps on the SPOTTERON platform are ad-free, and we keep the user's data safe. We will never sell user data to third parties, and we don't include third-party ad networks or other forms of user monetization in smartphone apps or websites. We believe Citizen Science should stay independent and respect its user's privacy.
We don't track users.
Every service on the internet costs something - by including Google Analytics, Twitter Feeds, Facebook Buttons, or other free tools, all user data will be tracked, monitored, and fed into personal user profiles. As an ethical principle, our policy is that we do not track our users and don't include third-party scripts, which permanently keep watching.
We run our own map servers.
Applied user privacy also means running your own map servers and not implementing maps from big cooperations like Google Maps or Bing Maps. Such free map services on the web are commonly paid with your user's data instead. On SPOTTERON, the app's map is hosted on a professional map provider, and the costs for the traffic of map tiles generated by the use of the Citizen Science app are already included in the regular prices of your SPOTTERON Package.
View available SPOTTERON packages
EU General Data Protection Regulation
Beginning on 25th May 2018, the European Union set high standards for privacy laws with the General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679). All science projects running on the SPOTTERON platform automatically comply with the terms of the regulations and include functionalities like the "right to erasure" or "data protection by design." In all apps on the platform, users can find options to export a copy of all their personal data directly in a machine-readable format and to anonymize all their personal information stored on the SPOTTERON servers without waiting time. As a platform, we comply fully with the EU GDPR and go even beyond that.
Ethical aspects for digital Citizen Science on the SPOTTERON platform
Ethics, protection of participants and data security is an essential topic in our work in the field of citizen science and citizen participation. SPOTTERON as a digital platform specifically for Citizen Science and research projects from various fields not only brings design and development to projects, but also an environment in which data protection and privacy are more than just a marginal aspect.
"Citizen Science and user participation should have higher data protection standards than your regular online marketing corporation."
- Philipp Hummer, SPOTTERON Founder
As a platform, we comply with more extensive data protection measures than required by the GDPR. No monitoring scripts or user tracking are built into any of the platform's apps or websites. SPOTTERON does not participate in the "surveillance business model" or use "free" services such as Google Services, social media buttons, etc., which are paid for twice with user data and behavioural analysis. And this is usually done without the users knowing or being able to directly recognise it. Furthermore, no user data is monetised or passed on on SPOTTERON.
SPOTTERON also meets high industry standards in terms of digital data security, using European data storage locations with security systems, access controls, etc.. All transfers of more sensitive data such as log-ins, posts or comments are of course encrypted via TLS/SSL. Technical and organisational measures for applied data protection are in place and in addition with the very high data protection ethics of SPOTTERON, a service for Citizen Science is formed that is not only ethically reliable for users, but also for project operators.
With SPOTTERON's hands-on approach, digital privacy and user protection ethics are at the core of our work in Citizen Science and public participation tools. For all IT services, we always aim to use EU-based providers and EU-based data processing locations to best possible protect the personal data of users and project teams. Features and App functionalities on SPOTTERON are designed with privacy, a strict no-user-tracking policy, and data minimization in mind, extending the requirements of the GDPR to a safe digital environment. For both Apps and Websites, we do not include permanent tracking scripts, tracking cookies, or surveillance-based software - because privacy and digital ethics matter.