12/01/2022: Removing our one year automatic data sharing policy

Effective December 1, 2022, new and existing samples will no longer become automatically public on the platform after one year. Instead, you get to decide if and when you would like to release your data to CZ ID’s public repository. This change is based on feedback we received about how our previous policy did not allow sufficient time for users to publish their research. We’re excited to make this update to better support your research needs. 

What does this data policy change mean?

Data marked as private on CZ ID will stay private to you and your collaborators until you decide to share it with other researchers by making it public on CZ ID. The new policy update also applies to any existing private data on CZ ID.

How can I continue to share my data?

If you want to share your data with individuals on CZ ID, you can continue to do so by adding them as collaborators to your CZ ID project. If you are ready to share your data with all CZ ID users, you can do so by marking your project as public at any point. 

Will my raw data files ever become public on CZ ID?

No. Raw sample data (genetic sequence files (ex: FASTA/FASTQ)) that have been uploaded to CZ ID are only available to the original uploader, no matter if your sample is public, private, or shared via a project. Raw data is not shared with any other CZ ID user, nor is it ever accessed by anyone working on CZ ID unless specifically requested by a user, such as to debug an issue. This has always been, and will continue to remain, our policy, so we can keep highly sensitive data protected. You can read more on how we protect your data in our Privacy Policy, as well as our security white paper.

Collaboration and open science are integral to CZ ID so our research community can continue to detect and track emerging infectious diseases worldwide. In the coming months, we’ll explore new ways to foster data-sharing amongst this community.