Rationale
The primary focus of this affinity group is to call attention to ethical considerations around ongoing and newly proposed work using Linked Data technologies. A core guiding principle of the group is that ethics should be a forethought, not an afterthought, of any initiative as a way to not only potentially reduce harm, but to prevent further harm. The group serves as a space for exploration and discussion of the ethical implications (both positive and negative) of linked data and work towards developing a Code of Ethics and toolkit of resources to provide a critical and ethical framework for designing linked data projects. The group aims to act in an advisory capacity to the LD4 community and beyond.
Motivating areas of work
- Identification of existing barriers to implementing an ethical framework
- Recognizing global and cultural differences on right, wrong, legal, ethical
- Differentiating between decisions and labor around creating and publishing
- Addressing complicated and problematic legacy data
- Confronting potential loss of control as a result of more open and available data
- Respecting the wishes and desires of the creators
- Utilizing new technology in order to enhance current possibilities
Approach
Project Conveners: Itza Carbajal, Luiza Wainer, Kathleen Burlingame, Hilary Thorsen, Steven Folsom, Alexandra Provo Monthly Calls
Dedicated, open Slack channel in LD4 – #ethicsld http://bit.ly/joinld4slack Shared Google Drive folder: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1X7ZBtSVTjOKJ7FUeRYk2NWdHDqsvg5BK
Calls
Calls are via Zoom, monthly: Last Tuesday, 11am PDT / 12pm MT / 1pm CT / 2pm ET (Time zone converter)
