Data Ownership: Empowering Both Data Collectors and Providers

Data collection through forms and surveys involves two roles: the data collector and the data provider. For a long time, the collector has held most of the control, and the provider has had little say over the information they submit. Once you hit that 'Submit' button, your data usually goes somewhere you can no longer reach.

That is starting to change.

BlockSurvey now includes a "Data Ownership" feature that shifts some of that control back to the provider. In most tools, your responses are fixed and held by the collector once you send them. With Data Ownership, the person who submitted the data can keep ownership of it, edit it, or take it back. The point is practical as much as ethical: it builds trust, keeps responses more accurate, and holds data collection to a clearer standard.

The traditional model of data collection

In the usual data collection model, information flows in one direction. When someone fills out a form or survey, their answers go straight to the collector, often without a second thought. Once they click 'Submit', they have little or no control over what happens next. The input leaves their hands and they cannot see it or change it again.

This puts the power with the collector. The collector can store, analyze, and even monetize the data, and they alone decide whether it is accurate and relevant. The provider, who is usually the subject of the data, has no view into how it is used, stored, or changed later. That is an unfair arrangement, and it raises real concerns about accuracy, privacy, and ethics.

The lack of shared ownership also causes problems for specific use cases. In a research study, a participant might want to correct an error in their submission or withdraw their data entirely. In customer feedback and HR surveys, submitted data stays static, so updates or changes do not show up. That can be a problem for both the collector and the provider.

In short, the traditional model amounts to throwing your data over a wall and hoping for the best. A more balanced, ethical approach to data collection can replace it.

What is two-way data ownership?

Two-way data ownership changes the traditional model so that both the collector and the provider share ownership of the information. Instead of losing access after submission, the respondent can go back to their data, edit it, or take it back. 

This builds trust, because providers know they keep ongoing control and visibility over their own information. It also improves accuracy, since respondents can fix mistakes or update their answers. That helps most when information changes over time, for example in customer feedback or an ongoing research study. 

With two-way data ownership, organizations can meet ethical standards for data collection, stay transparent, and earn trust from their respondents.

How to use two-way data ownership in BlockSurvey

Turning on two-way data ownership in BlockSurvey is a short process that puts you and your respondents in control. Here is how to enable it:

1. Log in to your BlockSurvey dashboard: Go to your dashboard and select the survey or form you want to edit.

2. Go to settings: Inside the Design of the form or survey, click the 'Settings' tab.

3. Open data ownership: Scroll down to the 'Data Ownership' section. Toggle the switch to 'ON' to turn on the feature.

4. Customize identity: Optionally, you can set which identities respondents use to own their data, whether that is a centralized email or social identity or a Web3 decentralized identity.

5. Save and publish: Once the settings look right, save the changes and republish your form or survey. 

After you enable the feature, respondents can open their submitted responses from the 'My Responses' section in the BlockSurvey dashboard. From there they can edit or retract their data when they want to, which balances the power between both sides and gives everyone more peace of mind.

Turning this on is both a technical and an ethical choice. By enabling Data Ownership, you put respondent trust first, keep responses more accurate, and follow the standards that matter in a data-sensitive world.

Why two-way ownership matters

Ethical standards: Two-way data ownership holds data collection to a higher standard. When data privacy is a growing concern, letting respondents control their own data is a real step forward.

Data accuracy: When providers can amend or retract their data, the information gets more accurate. Both sides benefit.

Trust: Two-way ownership builds trust between providers and collectors, which matters more all the time.

Use cases

Research studies: In academic or clinical research, participants may need to amend their responses or withdraw their data. Two-way data ownership makes that simple.

Customer feedback: Customers can edit or retract their reviews and feedback. This gives them more say and can raise the quality of the feedback you receive.

HR and employee surveys: In a company, employees can update or retract their survey responses, so the most accurate and current information stays available.

Conclusion

Two-way data ownership changes how we think about data collection. It closes the gap between collectors and providers and makes the process more ethical, more accurate, and more trustworthy. BlockSurvey is glad to help lead this change, and we invite you to try the platform and see how Data Ownership works for yourself.

Learn more about our privacy and security policy, explore all BlockSurvey features, or see how we support Web3 data collection.