If your data involves human participants, it may be sensitive or identifiable data, even if no personal identifiers are collected. For instance, through the course of participating in an anonymous survey, participants may inadvertently share highly private details which enable their identities to be inferred.

Sensitive data needs extra care in storing and allowing others access to it.

Before collecting any primary data from human participants it is crucial to gain informed consent from them. You will also need to fill in an Ethics Application. Charles Sturt's ethics application and approval process requires all researchers to complete and submit a Human Research Ethics Application (HREA) and details can be found at Human Research Ethics.

The UK Data Service has developed the Five Safes framework for controlled access to sensitive or confidential data - safe data, safe projects, safe people, safe settings and safe output.

Australia also has guidelines. Commonwealth legislation sets out 13 privacy principles and most states have their own privacy legislation. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has details.

The ARDC (Australian Research Data Commons) has best practices for managing sensitive data and de-identification.