detailswho

DetailsWho is a metadata framework and reference implementation designed to standardize how personal details are described and managed within data catalogs. It provides a common schema for recording attributes such as attribute_name, value, source, timestamp, confidence, consent_status, retention_policy, and data_classification, with an emphasis on provenance and governance. The framework aims to improve data quality, interoperability, and privacy compliance by making the origin and allowed uses of each attribute explicit.

Overview and features. DetailsWho differentiates core attribute metadata from governance metadata, allowing catalogs to track where a detail originated, how it was verified, who has permission to use it, and under what retention terms. It supports machine-readable formats such as JSON-LD and RDF to enable integration with data lineage, cataloging, and access-control systems. The model is designed to accommodate both direct attributes (for example, declared identifiers) and derived attributes (for example, age from birth date), with traceable provenance for each.

History and development. The concept emerged from collaborations among data stewards, privacy researchers, and standards groups in the late 2010s. An initial specification was published publicly, followed by an open-source reference implementation and community-maintained registries of attribute definitions and consent templates to support interoperability across platforms.

Applications and impact. DetailsWho is used by academic institutions, government data portals, and enterprise data catalogs to annotate records with attribute-level provenance and consent information. Proponents argue it improves auditability, regulatory compliance, and responsible use, while critics caution that adoption can be complex and may add administrative overhead.

See also. Data provenance, metadata standards, consent management, data governance.