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A '''personal data service''' (PDS) gives the user a central point of control for their personal information (e.g. interests, contact information, affiliations, preferences, friends). The user's data attributes being managed by the service may be stored in a co-located repository, or they may be stored in multiple external distributed repositories, or a combination of both. Attributes from a PDS may be accessed via an API. Users of the same PDS instance may be allowed to selectively share sets of attributes with other users. A data ecosystem is developing where such sharing among projects or "operators" may become practicable.<ref>{{Cite web|first1=Joss |last1=Langford |url=https://mydata.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/04/Understanding-Mydata-Operators-pages.pdf|title=Understanding MyData Operators|publisher=mydata|accessdate=November 22, 2020}}</ref>
The concept of a PDS can be differentiated from another closely related term, ''personal data store''. "A personal data store is a physical repository for data over which an individual exerts access control. Again, the term itself does not imply where such a store lives on the network (i.e., in the cloud, on a local device, in a smart card, on a SIM, etc.)".<ref>{{Cite web|first1=Drummond |last1=Reed |url=https://equalsdrummond.name/2010/10/06/revision-personal-data-service-and-personal-data-store/ |title=Revision: "Personal Data Service" AND "Personal Data Store" Go Together}}</ref> The word "store" implies that a ''personal data store'' actually stores personal data,<ref>{{Cite web|first1=Drummond |last1=Reed |url=https://equalsdrummond.name/2010/10/03/out-with-personal-data-store-in-with-personal-data-service/|title=Out with "Personal Data Store", In with "Personal Data Service"}}</ref> whereas the emphasis of a PDS is on providing a single point of control.<ref>{{Cite web|first1=Paul |last1=Trevithick |url=https://www.incontextblog.com/?p=666 |title=Personal Data Service vs. Personal Data Store}}</ref> In summary, a 'personal data store' always stores data whereas, whereas a personal data service may or may not.
== Examples == The Locker Project was an open source, JavaScript-based, PDS with a centralized underlying attribute store that exists on a person's personal computer as well as an API to support local applications.
The Higgins project was an open-source project that included a personal data store and identity services.
Personal, Inc. was a consumer personal data service and identity management system for individuals.
Mydex is a commercial personal data store that became an identity provider for GOV.UK Verify.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Middleton |first=Kulsoom |date=2015-01-27 |title=Profile: Mydex - helping you to take control of your personal data |url=https://techspark.co/blog/2015/01/27/profile-mydex-helping-you-to-take-control-of-your-personal-data/ |access-date=2026-02-10 |website=techSPARK |language=en-US}}</ref>
==See also== * Data vault modeling * Identity management * Privacy by design * Vendor relationship management
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Cite web |author= |date=2013 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_IT_UnlockingValuePersonalData_CollectionUsage_Report_2013.pdf |title=Unlocking the Value of Personal Data: From Collection to Usage |publisher=World Economic Forum |accessdate=2016-01-08}} * [https://www.ctrl-shift.co.uk/news/2014/03/20/new-market-for-empowering-personal-data-services-will-transform-relationships-between-customers-and-brands/ New market for 'empowering personal data services "will transform relationships between customers and brands"] - Ctrl-Shift
Category:Identity management systems Category:Privacy