What is a Data Download Package (DDP)?

A Data Download Package (DDP) is a digital archive of personal data that a platform has collected about you. It is usually delivered as a ZIP file containing structured data files (such as JSON, CSV, or HTML) and media files (images, audio, and video).

DDPs represent a "user-centric" method of data access. Unlike "platform-centric" methods (like APIs or web scraping), DDPs allow individuals to retrieve their own data directly from the service provider. This data often includes your content creation history, search behaviour, interactions (likes/comments), and account details.

How do I obtain my DDP?

The process varies slightly by platform, but generally involves the following steps:

Visit the "Settings" or "Privacy" section of the platform.
Look for an option labeled "Download your information," "Request data," or "Export data."
Select the format (often HTML or JSON) and the date range you wish to download.
The platform will process the request and email you a link to download the ZIP file. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to several days.

See our DDP Export Instructions page for more information on how to download your DDP.

Is this required by law in Australia?

Currently, Australia does not have a direct equivalent to the European Union's GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). Under GDPR, individuals have a legal right to access personal data collected about them in a machine-readable format.

However, because major digital platforms operate globally, they often standardise their systems to comply with GDPR for all users. This means Australian users can usually access the same (or similar) data export tools as users in Europe.

Why are DDPs valuable for research?

DDPs provide a novel, rich data source with longitudinal depth. They represent the "raw inputs" that platform algorithms use to make decisions.

By analysing DDPs, researchers can:

Understand user behaviours and engagement patterns over time.
Examine how platforms classify users to target advertisements.
Audit the types of personal information platforms collect vs. what users think is being collected.

Does a DDP contain everything the platform knows about me?

No. A DDP is not a complete record. It generally reflects:

Data the platform has explicitly collected from you (e.g., your clicks, uploads, and logs).
Data the platform defines as "accessible personal data" under privacy regulations.

Crucially, DDPs usually do not contain inferred traits, internal labels, or complex algorithmic predictions the platform has made about you (e.g., that the platform has categorised you as "likely to buy a car"). Furthermore, platforms change the structure and content of these files without notice, and there is no standard format between them.

What digital platform DDPs can I explore using AIO tools?

The Australian Internet Observatory provides specific viewers for:

ChatGPT: Explore your conversation history.
Instagram: Analyse activity, content engagement, and ads.
YouTube: Visualise watch history and search behaviour.

We also offer an experimental Universal Viewer for exploring DDPs from other platforms.

Additionally, data from other platforms can often be explored using our general Lab Workspace tools.

Who will have access to my data?

DDPs are intrinsically personal. When using our public DDP viewing tools, we aim to process as much of the data locally in your browser as possible to protect your privacy. When we do need to send data to our servers, for more complex processing, we immediately delete it after processing.

If you choose to participate in a specific research study, you may be explicitly asked to donate your DDP. In this case, please refer to that study's specific consent form, which will detail exactly what data will be shared with researchers and how it will be securely stored.

How can I contact the Australian Internet Observatory?

For more information, visit internetobservatory.org.au or email us at aio@rmit.edu.au.