Unveiling Our Two Cornerstone Initiatives for Ethical Data Use
The Commitment to the Ethical Use of Data and ThePrivacyStack Seek to Help Businesses Be Responsible Stewards of Data
Today, we announced our two cornerstone initiatives for businesses to reference and adopt: A technical blueprint (ThePrivacyStack) and a strategic blueprint (Commitment to the Ethical Use of Data).
So, what are these initiatives? Why did we create them? How will they be implemented? Who is involved? And lastly, why should you care?
Our Initiatives Target the Whole Organization
Our work at ETP initially started with addressing a gap in the market: How do you actually design technical systems to be both compliant and future-proof for everything that’s coming? ThePrivacyStack came first, but then the feedback we heard from organizations – although very positive and they’d like to implement it – but not for years because it's not a business priority. So, we understood that we needed to bring the entire organization on the journey, and that’s where the commitment came in.
The strategic blueprint, the Commitment to the Ethical Use of Data, outlines a vision of an “ethical data ecosystem” for forward-thinking leaders to adopt, including five core principles that are essential for any organization to embrace to achieve that vision. The objective of these guidelines is to provide a north star as companies journey toward proper data stewardship.
The technical blueprint, ThePrivacyStack, is a reference architecture for integrating data privacy into products, services, and systems. Architected by engineers, for engineers, ThePrivacyStack enables developers with the right set of privacy controls for their unique product architecture, enabling a quick, clear, and one-time implementation of privacy-by-design. ThePrivacyStack can be downloaded on GitHub here.
Our Initiatives Can Help Firms Be Responsible Stewards of Data
In the past, businesses put questions of privacy and data ethics aside. Leaders failed to risk-adjust and chased data collection as part of growth at all costs. Repeated scandals resulted in a lack of consumer trust, an increased regulatory burden, and an erosion of brand value.
There’s a new risk now, where the entrenched mindset of consumers and regulators (however justified) hampers the next wave of innovation. The hazard is a society less well-off as a result and we believe businesses must lead the change.
We will be going out to industry in the coming months to invite them on the journey to build a more responsible future where companies should and can be trusted stewards of people’s data and where innovation is once again synonymous with good.
Developing A Network of Implementation Partners Will Be Key
These two blueprints are maps for those on the journey to data stewardship. To implement them, many organizations will likely need enablement partners to execute. To support those committed to the journey, The Ethical Tech Project has compiled a directory of enablement partners who are able to guide firms in the system improvements required to improve their ethical data use posture, enact organizational change, and achieve stronger business outcomes through ethical data use. Learn more about Enablement Partners here.
We’re Taking An Interdisciplinary Approach to Ethical Data Use
We’ve coalesced a group of unique individuals from different disciplines, who each have their own specific lens for the way they look at the world of data and the effect it has on humanity, business, and government to develop these initiatives. Read more about our leadership here.
Let’s Create Spheres of Trust Around Data and Responsibly Navigate the Age of AI
The rampant developments of Generative AI in the first half of 2023 show both the promise and peril of a world where data is a critical component of business strategy. Inherent in data collection and use are risks from regulators and distrustful customers left to business leaders to navigate. The Ethical Tech Project is bringing both technical and strategic blueprints to market to help the industry navigate these risks by adopting data stewardship – and we’re excited to start getting companies on board.
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