Implementing Data Portability

Implementing Data Portability

Data portability enables users to receive their personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format. This right facilitates user autonomy and prevents vendor lock-in. Implementation requires careful consideration of what data to include, how to structure it for maximum utility, and how to deliver it securely. The challenge lies in balancing completeness with privacy and security concerns.

// Data portability implementation
class DataPortabilityService {
  constructor() {
    this.exportFormats = {
      JSON: new JSONExporter(),
      CSV: new CSVExporter(),
      XML: new XMLExporter()
    };
    
    this.dataCategories = {
      profile: { include: true, sensitive: true },
      content: { include: true, sensitive: false },
      activity: { include: true, sensitive: false },
      preferences: { include: true, sensitive: false },
      connections: { include: true, sensitive: true }
    };
  }

  // Process portability request
  async processPortabilityRequest(request) {
    const exportJob = {
      jobId: this.generateJobId(),
      requestId: request.id,
      userId: request.userId,
      format: request.format || 'JSON',
      status: 'collecting',
      progress: 0
    };

    try {
      // Collect portable data
      const portableData = await this.collectPortableData(request.userId, exportJob);
      
      // Structure data according to standards
      const structuredData = await this.structureData(portableData);
      
      // Export in requested format
      const exported = await this.exportData(structuredData, exportJob.format);
      
      // Package securely
      const package = await this.packageData(exported, request);
      
      // Create secure delivery
      const delivery = await this.createSecureDelivery(package, request);
      
      exportJob.status = 'completed';
      exportJob.deliveryDetails = delivery;
      
      return exportJob;
    } catch (error) {
      exportJob.status = 'failed';
      exportJob.error = error.message;
      throw error;
    }
  }

  // Collect data that is portable
  async collectPortableData(userId, job) {
    const portableData = {};
    const categories = Object.entries(this.dataCategories)
      .filter(([_, config]) => config.include);
    
    let processed = 0;
    
    for (const [category, config] of categories) {
      try {
        // Update progress
        job.progress = Math.floor((processed / categories.length) * 50);
        await this.updateJob(job);
        
        // Collect category data
        const collector = this.getCollector(category);
        const data = await collector.collect(userId);
        
        // Filter portable data only
        const filtered = this.filterPortableData(data, category);
        
        // Sanitize if sensitive
        if (config.sensitive) {
          portableData[category] = await this.sanitizeSensitiveData(filtered);
        } else {
          portableData[category] = filtered;
        }
        
        processed++;
      } catch (error) {
        console.error(`Failed to collect ${category}:`, error);
        portableData[category] = {
          error: 'Failed to collect',
          reason: error.message
        };
      }
    }
    
    return portableData;
  }

  // Structure data according to portability standards
  async structureData(data) {
    return {
      '@context': 'https://schema.org',
      '@type': 'DataPortabilityPackage',
      version: '1.0',
      created: new Date().toISOString(),
      dataController: {
        '@type': 'Organization',
        name: process.env.COMPANY_NAME,
        url: process.env.COMPANY_URL
      },
      dataSubject: {
        '@type': 'Person',
        identifier: data.profile?.id
      },
      datasets: Object.entries(data).map(([category, categoryData]) => ({
        '@type': 'Dataset',
        name: category,
        description: this.getCategoryDescription(category),
        distribution: {
          '@type': 'DataDownload',
          encodingFormat: 'application/json',
          contentSize: JSON.stringify(categoryData).length
        },
        data: categoryData
      }))
    };
  }

  // Create secure data package
  async packageData(exportedData, request) {
    // Encrypt data
    const encryptedData = await this.encryptPackage(exportedData, request.userId);
    
    // Add integrity verification
    const integrity = {
      algorithm: 'sha256',
      hash: crypto.createHash('sha256').update(exportedData).digest('hex')
    };
    
    // Create manifest
    const manifest = {
      version: '1.0',
      created: new Date().toISOString(),
      requestId: request.id,
      format: request.format,
      encryption: {
        algorithm: 'aes-256-gcm',
        keyDerivation: 'pbkdf2'
      },
      integrity,
      instructions: this.getExtractionInstructions(request.format)
    };
    
    // Package everything
    const zip = new JSZip();
    zip.file('manifest.json', JSON.stringify(manifest, null, 2));
    zip.file('data.encrypted', encryptedData);
    zip.file('README.txt', this.generateReadme(request));
    
    return await zip.generateAsync({ type: 'nodebuffer' });
  }

  // Create secure delivery mechanism
  async createSecureDelivery(package, request) {
    // Generate secure download token
    const token = crypto.randomBytes(32).toString('hex');
    
    // Store package temporarily
    const storageKey = `export_${request.id}_${token}`;
    await this.secureStorage.store(storageKey, package, {
      ttl: 7 * 24 * 60 * 60 // 7 days
    });
    
    // Create download URL
    const downloadUrl = `${process.env.APP_URL}/privacy/download/${token}`;
    
    // Send notification with download link
    await this.notificationService.send(request.userId, {
      type: 'data_export_ready',
      subject: 'Your data export is ready',
      downloadUrl,
      expiresAt: new Date(Date.now() + 7 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000),
      passwordHint: 'Use your account password to decrypt'
    });
    
    return {
      method: 'secure_download',
      url: downloadUrl,
      token,
      expiresAt: new Date(Date.now() + 7 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000)
    };
  }
}

// JSON exporter with privacy considerations
class JSONExporter {
  export(data) {
    return JSON.stringify(data, this.replacer, 2);
  }
  
  replacer(key, value) {
    // Exclude internal fields
    if (key.startsWith('_')) return undefined;
    
    // Format dates consistently
    if (value instanceof Date) {
      return value.toISOString();
    }
    
    // Exclude null values for cleaner export
    if (value === null) return undefined;
    
    return value;
  }
}