These are themes that University of Dundee and Open University experts are helping to explore to determine how members of the public view the relationship between technology and personal data.

The university’s Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science is looking for input on what people may do in different scenarios via a series of quizzes created by Fast Familiar, entitled Care to Share.

The research asks people if they are comfortable in sharing the information on their phones and digital devices with police and forensic scientists, and how confident they are that their information will be used appropriately. Additional questionnaires will also examine a person’s understanding of how DNA is used in the justice system; with a third focusing on the use of facial recognition software.

Professor Niamh Nic Daéid, director of the LRCFS, said: “Technology has become better and better at harvesting vast amounts of personal data, from the photographs we take, the health and fitness information we provide, the navigation tools we utilise and the text messages we send. We have also become used to using our fingerprints and faces as means of securing our phones, computers and other devices and sharing these images with global technology providers.

“But how comfortable are we really in sharing our digital data and the things that identify us, our DNA and our faces, with police and scientists? Where do we draw the line between privacy and supporting the investigation of crime?  These are some of the questions we are seeking help in answering.”

Anyone interested in participating in the project can access the quizzes here.