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How it works
Trust, transparency and shared responsibility
We Are was established in response to a need to make personal health and well-being data available in a secure, transparent, and ethically responsible way, so it can contribute to both personal and collective quality of life.
This requires clear agreements—not only for citizens, but also for healthcare providers, researchers, governments, and companies that wish to use this data. This is why we have created a framework agreement where technology, trust, and collaboration go hand in hand.
Ethically and legally reviewed together with citizens
Not every application is automatically granted access to We Are. Each request is first evaluated by an independent ethics committee, with citizens representation. This committee ensures that applications align with We Are’s core values and that data is used in a safe, caring, and responsible manner. Legal review is conducted by Athumi’s advisory committee, which ensures that personal data is processed correctly and in accordance with GDPR within the Flemish data ecosystem.
Each request is assessed based on legislation and our core values:
- self-determination and solidarity
- quality and efficiency
- care and equality
- privacy and security
From assessment to informed consent
The We Are framework is built on two fundamental pillars. This creates a system of shared responsibility: the ethical committee safeguards the values, and the citizen decides.
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Application assessment
Any application that requests access to We Are—whether to consult data or to add new data—is first reviewed by the ethics committee. Only applications that demonstrably contribute to health and quality of life are approved.
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Free choice of the citizen
After that, the citizen decides whether or not to use the application and which data may be shared. This consent is always informed, transparent, and revocable.
A data culture that connects technology and ethics
We Are is about more than just complying with rules. Our approach is rooted in a broader culture of trust, participation, and collaboration:
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Access to data is never taken for granted
Every application is first reviewed by the ethics and legal committees.
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Transparency is the standard
Citizens can see who is requesting access to their data, why the access is requested, and can withdraw their consent at any time.
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Trust is the starting point
In the technology, in every decision, and in the collaboration between citizens and organizations.
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International guidelines as a foundation
We work with globally recognized standards for citizen-managed data platforms.
Our partnerships
