Common Data is a public education project about how digital systems should work when they are designed around people.
Most of the digital systems we rely on every day were not designed with human understanding, long-term evidence, or minimal data use in mind. They were designed to optimise storage, speed, and administrative convenience.
Over time, this has led to systems that are efficient, but fragile — and often difficult to trust.
Common Data exists to explain that this is not inevitable.
A simple idea
At its core, Common Data is based on a simple observation:
Trust does not require constant data collection.
Digital systems can preserve history without overwriting it.
They can prove facts without exposing identity.
They can support accountability without surveillance.
These outcomes depend on architectural choices — not on asking people to behave perfectly, read longer privacy policies, or accept greater risk.
What we mean by “common”
The word common does not mean public ownership, open access, or shared databases.
It means:
- familiar
- everyday
- understandable
- designed for ordinary use
Common Data focuses on the parts of digital infrastructure that affect people’s daily lives — records, documents, permissions, and proofs — and asks how these could work in calmer, more reliable ways.
What this project does
Common Data does not build products or platforms.
Instead, it:
- explains digital infrastructure in plain language
- uses everyday examples instead of technical diagrams
- compares how systems work today with how they could work
- helps people recognise when unnecessary data is being collected
- provides reasonable questions to ask before sharing personal information
The goal is understanding, not instruction.
What this project is not
Common Data is deliberately limited in scope.
It is not:
- a campaign or advocacy group
- a technology startup
- a breach reporting service
- a policy programme
- a critique of specific organisations
Those conversations matter — but they belong elsewhere.
This project exists to establish a shared baseline of understanding.
Why this matters
When people understand how digital systems could work, expectations change.
Organisations can design calmer systems.
Institutions can reduce long-term risk.
Disputes become easier to resolve.
Trust becomes easier to maintain.
None of this requires radical technology or constant oversight — only better defaults.
Common Data is about making digital trust feel ordinary again.