⚠️ Urgent: Data Donation Research Under Threat

A proposed EU GDPR amendment could make data donation research impossible. The letter will be sent to the European Commission on December 15, 2025.

The Issue

The proposed GDPR Omnibus amendment to Article 12(5) would allow data controllers to refuse access requests if deemed for “purposes other than data protection.” This seemingly technical change would effectively end data donation research—one of the few independent methods for studying digital platforms in Europe.

Why This Matters

Data donation research enables critically important studies on topics such as:

  • Digital well-being of minors
  • Unhealthy or addictive behavior on platforms
  • Content exposure and user behavior on social networks
  • Political polarization
  • Algorithmic systems in gig work platforms

By requiring individuals to exercise their Article 15 GDPR rights to access and voluntarily donate their data, data donation research empowers citizens through participatory knowledge generation. The proposed amendment would give platforms veto power over this independent research.

Take Action

📝 Sign the Open Letter

Join hundreds of researchers in urging EU policymakers to protect data donation research.

Sign the Open Letter →

Deadline: The letter will be submitted December 15, 2025

The Open Letter

The open letter, coordinated by the DSA 40 Collaboratory, calls on the European Commission, European Parliament, and Council of the European Union to reject this amendment.

Initial Signatories Include:

  • Anja Bechmann, Aarhus University, Denmark
  • Claes de Vreese, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • Daniel Oberski, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
  • Florian Keusch, University of Mannheim, Germany
  • Jakob Ohme, Weizenbaum Institute, Germany
  • Laura Boeschoten, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
  • Natali Helberger, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
  • Theo Araujo, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • Valerie Hase, University of Klagenfurt, Austria
  • And many more…

View the full letter and complete list of signatories

Why Data Donation Research Matters

Data donation research:

  • ✅ Puts power in the hands of citizens
  • ✅ Enables independent scrutiny of powerful platforms
  • ✅ Supports evidence-based policymaking
  • ✅ Empowers citizen science initiatives
  • ✅ Provides an alternative to platform-controlled data access

The GDPR Omnibus, as drafted, would transfer that power back to platforms, giving them legal grounds to refuse requests from citizens engaging in participatory research.

Learn More

For more information about the proposed amendment and its implications:

💬 Share This Issue

Help spread awareness by sharing this letter with colleagues and on social media. The future of independent platform research in Europe depends on protecting data donation as a research method.