Just because you can
A student can copy names and photos from a social media page in minutes. That does not make it allowed.
Collecting data is not only about tools. It is about rules. This lesson covers where to gather data, which shape to pick, and how to stay inside the law.
Key words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Personal data | Any data that can identify a living person. | A name and a phone number |
| GDPR | The UK GDPR: the main law on how personal data is collected and used. | Collect only what you need |
| Data subject | The person that the personal data is about. | A customer |
| Lawful basis | A reason the law accepts for using personal data. | The person gave consent |
| Consent | A clear yes from a person who knows what they are saying yes to. | A ticked box with a plain note |
| Data minimisation | Collecting only the data you really need. | Do not ask for a birthday if you only need an age group |
| Database | A store of organised data that a program can search. | A customer table |
| Query | A question you ask a database in a special language. | Show all orders from May |
| Structured data | Data in fixed fields of set types. | A spreadsheet table |
| Unstructured data | Data with no set layout. | Social media posts |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can gather data from inside and outside, choose the right data shape, and keep to data law.
Starter: what you already know
Have a go
Starter: what you already know
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
Match the shape to the source
| Source | Shape | How you get it |
|---|---|---|
| Spreadsheet or database | Structured | Export or query |
| Social media, web pages | Unstructured | Download within the site rules |
| Log file | Semi-structured | Copy the file, then split each line |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Collecting within the law
When data is personal, the law has rules. Collect only what you need. Tell people what you are doing. Have a lawful basis, such as consent. Keep it accurate and keep it safe.
Public data about people is still personal data. Also read the site's own terms before you copy from it.
Try it: keep only what you need
rows = [["name", "phone", "item"],
["Sam", "555-0101", "bun"],
["Jo", "555-0102", "loaf"]]
place = rows[0].index("item")
for row in rows:
print(row[place])
# Try it: print the name column instead. Which column holds a phone number?
A common mistake
Warning
Many people think data on a public web page is free to take and keep. It may still be personal data, and the site may have rules. Public to read does not mean free to collect.