You can control who has access your Synapse data in two ways. First, you determine who can access content by using sharing settings. Sharing settings are the list of people or teams and the permissions those groups have with respect to a dataset. You can use sharing settings to control who can view, edit, download, or delete data.
In addition to sharing settings, the second way to control who can access your data is by applying Conditions for Use. These restrictions define how users who have permission to download your data may use it. Conditions for Use may include citation requirements, IRB approval, or other restrictions defined by the data contributor.
To learn more about these features in Synapse, visit the Sharing settings and Conditions for Use pages.
Data tiers
The combination of sharing settings and Conditions for Use determine who can access information in Synapse. For example, you can specify users who have permission to download a data file (as set by sharing settings), and you can also require that the file can only be used if certain Conditions of Use are met.
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Private data: visible only to you or other users whom you select in sharing settings.
Controlled data: (also called controlled access data, or controlled use data) available to registered users that fulfill specific requirements for data access, such as submitting an Intended Data Use statement, obtaining IRB approval, or other prerequisites.
Open data: (also called open access data, or open use data) available for all registered Synapse users without Conditions for Use.
Public data: available for anyone on the web without conditions for use.
Private data
By default, when you create a new Project in Synapse, the sharing settings are set to private and any data that you add will only be visible to you. Private data also includes data that you share only with individual Synapse users through sharing settings, but it is not widely shared.
Controlled data
Controlled data is meant to be shared, however it contains sensitive information that could potentially harm individuals or groups if misused. Therefore, controlled data has additional protections for how it can be used, and these conditions are defined by the data contributor. Controlled data can only be downloaded and used by authorized Synapse users, and it is not transferable unless explicitly specified otherwise. In other words, you cannot share controlled data freely with other collaborators; each Synapse user wishing to access controlled data must individually agree to the Conditions for Use to access that data. To learn more about conditions for use and how to apply them to your data, see Conditions for use.
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Data with minimal risks of re-identifying research participants
Genetic sequence or genotype data from living individuals
Data from “vulnerable” populations as defined using OHRP guidelines
Data generated with restrictions or requirements for use as outlined in informed consents or legal agreements
Open data
Unlike controlled data, open data does not require Conditions for Use. Open data is subject to general terms and conditions, and data users must have a registered Synapse account to download it. Typically, open data include:
Data from model organisms, species, or strains
Non-biological data, like data used for the calibration of instruments
Human data that are:
Publicly available elsewhere
De-identified and non-sensitive, with no known sharing or use restrictions
Self-contributed and unambiguously consented for open data sharing and use
Public data
Public data is similar to open data, except it is available for anyone on the web to view and download, with or without a registered Synapse account. To make your open data public, contact the Synapse Access and Compliance Team (ACT) at act@synapse.org.
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