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.
All content in Synapse has sharing settings, but not all content has Conditions for Use. Generally, data in Synapse can be categorized in two tiers:
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.
Controlled Data
Controlled data contains sensitive information that could potentially harm individuals or groups if misused. Controlled data requires appropriate Conditions for Use. It 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 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.
Important: Controlled Data may not be redistributed.
Examples of controlled data include:
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 is:
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