Data Transfer Initialisation vs. Data Transfer Initiative (DTI)

It appears there is confusion regarding the names "Data Transfer Project" and "Data Transfer Initiative" (DTI), and "Data Transfer Project Inc" does not seem to be an officially recognized entity. However, I can provide an overview based on available information about the Data Transfer Initiative (DTI) and its precursor, the Data Transfer Project (DTP).

Data Transfer Initiative (DTI)

The Data Transfer Initiative (DTI) is a U.S. nonprofit organization focused on empowering individuals by facilitating simpler, faster, and more secure data transfers between services. Born out of the Data Transfer Project (DTP), DTI aims to advance its mission through the design and implementation of open source data transfer tools and other innovations.

Purpose

DTI is dedicated to fostering a healthy portability ecosystem. This includes serving as an expert resource to regulators worldwide, helping translate principles into practices and enhancing user agency and empowerment.

Leadership and Team

• Chris Riley serves as the Executive Director, coming from the R Street Institute and previously leading global public policy efforts at Mozilla Corporation.
• Lisa Dusseault is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), bringing extensive technical expertise from various roles.
• Delara Derakhshani leads the policy department, with a background in privacy, technology, and telecommunications.

Initiatives and Partnerships

DTI is supported by tech firms such as Apple, Meta, and Google, who are expanding on the work of the Data Transfer Project. DTI partners contribute resources to develop data transfer tools and support legislation that requires data portability, such as the Digital Markets Act in Europe and proposed legislation in the United States like the Senate ACCESS Act.

Policy Engagements

DTI is involved in policy discussions across the EU, USA, and other jurisdictions, helping policymakers understand the implications of data portability.

Data Portability Use Cases

Examples of data portability achieved through DTI's efforts include transferring photos, social media post history, and content between services.

Data Transfer Project (DTP)

The Data Transfer Project (DTP) is an open-source initiative launched in 2018 to enable seamless data transfer between online service providers. It was initially announced by Google and has partnered with Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter, and Apple. DTP provides a framework for service-to-service data portability without the need for users to download and re-upload data.

Impact

DTP has been integrated into features such as Google Takeout, Facebook's "Transfer your Information," and Apple's Data and Privacy page, facilitating direct data transfers between these platforms.

Conclusion

While "Data Transfer Project Inc" is not a recognized entity, the Data Transfer Initiative (DTI) and the Data Transfer Project (DTP) are significant players in the data portability landscape. They work towards empowering users and enhancing competition by making data transfers easier and more secure.

[1] https://dtinit.org/about [2] https://github.com/dtinit/data-transfer-project [3] https://dtinit.org [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_Transfer_Project [5] https://techpolicy.press/tech-firms-back-data-transfer-initiative