Documentation & Resources
Comprehensive guides, templates, and tools to support your privacy-aware audiovisual data workflows.
Documentation
Documentation is being developed as part of the SYNAPSIS project. Guides will be published here as they become available.
Getting Started
Quick-start guide for new users. Platform registration, first upload, and basic masking workflow.
Face Masking Methods
Detailed comparison of face de-identification techniques: blur, pixelation, face swap, and neural methods.
Voice Anonymization
Audio de-identification methods preserving prosodic features while protecting speaker identity.
Pose Data Extraction
Extract skeletal pose data and kinematic features from masked videos for behavioral analysis.
FAIR Data Archiving
Archive masked data following FAIR principles with DANS integration and metadata standards.
API Reference
Complete API documentation for programmatic access to masking capabilities.
Templates & Forms
Data Management Plan Template
DMP template for audiovisual research data including masking procedures, storage, and archiving plans.
Metadata Schema
Standard metadata schema for masked audiovisual data including masking parameters and provenance information.
Masking Report Template
Document masking procedures, quality metrics, and compliance information for publications and ethics boards.
FAIR Self-Assessment for Audiovisual Data
Evaluate how Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable your masked dataset is. Adapted from the ARDC tool with audiovisual-specific guidance.
DPIA Screening for Audiovisual Research
Determine if a full DPIA is needed and document key privacy considerations. Based on Dutch DPA guidance, Utrecht University handbook, and ICT Institute template.
Software Management Plan
Plan the development, maintenance, and sustainability of research video processing software. Based on the Netherlands eScience Center SMP guide and NWO requirements.
Data Sharing Decision Tree
Determine the right sharing strategy for your audiovisual data. Covers open, tiered, controlled access, and metadata-only paths. Based on RDNL, CESSDA, and ODISSEI guidance.
Deployment Checklist
Step-by-step checklist for deploying MaskAnyone on university HPC clusters or local infrastructure. Covers hardware, security, networking, and verification.
Pilot Planning Template
Plan an institutional pilot deployment of MaskAnyone. Covers use case definition, stakeholders, compliance, technical setup, and evaluation criteria.
Workshop Planning Checklist
Timeline-based checklist for organizing masking workshops. Includes formats for 1.5h intro, 4h course, and 3-day summer school.
Code & Tools
MaskAnyone
Main platform repository with face masking, voice anonymization, and web interface components.
MaskBench
Benchmarking framework for evaluating pose estimation accuracy under masking conditions.
Docker Images
Pre-built Docker containers for local deployment. Currently available via repository instructions.
Ecosystem
Open-source tools and research infrastructures that complement the SYNAPSIS platform.
Privacy & Anonymization
Cleanvision
Automated image quality auditing for ML pipelines.
Data Management & Archiving
Multimedia Research Tools
VIA (VGG Annotator)
Lightweight browser-based image and video annotation.
Infrastructure & Ethics
Publications
Masked-Piper: Masking personal identities in visual recordings while preserving multimodal information
Owoyele, B., Trujillo, J., de Melo, G., & Pouw, W.
SoftwareX, Volume 20, 2022
MaskingOPS: A Tutorial for End-to-End Privacy-Preserving Video De-identification and Quality Assurance in Behavioral Research
Owoyele, B.A., Schilling, M., Riedel, T., Shaik, S., Zafari, Z., Pouw, W., & de Melo, G.
Under review — Behavior Research Methods
SYNAPSIS Policy Paper: Privacy-Aware Audiovisual Data Sharing for SSH
SYNAPSIS Consortium
In preparation
Coming 2027Frequently Asked Questions
What video formats are supported?
How long does processing take?
Is my data secure during processing?
Can I use SYNAPSIS for commercial purposes?
How do I cite SYNAPSIS in my research?
Please cite the SYNAPSIS platform and relevant publications:
What if I need help with a specific use case?
Need More Help?
Can't find what you're looking for? Our team is here to help with technical questions, use case consultations, and institutional partnerships.