Data Portability

Data portability enables applications to run operations on each individual user's data through onchain permissioned access to personal servers, without apps accessing raw data.

What It Enables

• Cross-platform personalization: Apps access user data from multiple sources for personalized experiences, with all data tied to a user's wallet
• No onboarding friction: Developers can personalize immediately without lengthy data collection, as users already have data connected
• User sovereignty: Users control their data, permissions, and compute environment, enabling personalization without compromising privacy

Core Architecture

Individual, permissioned file access for personalized applications, distinct from aggregate DataDAO access.

Similar to Urbit or Solid Project, this is a federated system where users self-host their data and use it across different applications, with each user connecting their own storage and personal server as a trusted compute environment.

Key Components

Personal Server - User-controlled storage and compute environment (self-hosted or trusted provider)

On-chain Permissions - Granular access control recorded on Vana blockchain

Cross-platform Data - Users bring data from multiple sources (Spotify, Instagram, etc.)

Technical Flow

1. User connects data sources to personal server tied to their EVM wallet (Spotify, Instagram, etc.)
2. App requests permissions via blockchain specifying scope (what data) and usage (how it's used)
3. User grants permissions with details recorded on-chain for transparency
4. App executes computation on personal server after blockchain validates permissions
5. Results returned to user, raw data never leaves personal server environment

Security Model

Data portability uses a single-user trust model where individual users can trust their own compute environment (self-hosted or through a trusted provider). This differs from DataDAOs, where multiple users combine private data requiring collective trust and shared secure environments (TEEs) since no single person can be trusted to run the hardware.

Data Portability vs DataDAOs

Interoperability

Data added through data portability can later be contributed to DataDAOs - users maintain flexibility to use their data individually or collectively.

Examples

Explore examples in the Vana app.

• Spotify Ice Cream App: Transforms Spotify data into personalized ice cream flavors
• Instagram DBI: Analyzes social media data to roast you