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Responding to Frank's feedback on Legal Frameworks section
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jabhay committed Nov 18, 2020
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Expand Up @@ -102,17 +102,20 @@ <h2>Context</h2>

<p>
Geospatial data is like a fingerprint: every combination of space, time, and theme is unique. The interaction with geospatial data can lead to beneficial insights and services, but it can also compromise citizens' privacy. This, in turn, may make them vulnerable to governmental overreach, tracking, discrimination, unwanted advertisement, and so forth. Hence, geospatial data ought to be handled with care. But what is careful, and what is careless? Let's discuss this.

</p>
<p>
Even though W3C is famous for developing standards, this note is not normative. Rather than presenting an overview of best practices ready for implementation, the purpose of this note is to start the conversation. You are therefore encouraged to join the authors of this document in exploring the question: “How do we use geospatial data responsibly?”

</p>
<p>
The note is a living document, ready to be enriched with ethical wisdom from across the world. Current ideas presented in the note are framed by a western perspective, so further international collaboration is much appreciated.

The use of data is speeding up, not only owing to increasing technical possibilities like AI and earth observation, but also as a result of crises such as COVID-19 and climate change accelerate the deployment of data and technology. This is happening on a small and local scale, as well as on a large and global one. Precisely because the use of data is becoming commonplace, it is urgent to internalize shared principles for the responsible use of data to achieve greater common value, better data and better products. These are preferably intrinsic principles that guarantee the safety and privacy of people, our social values and human dignity.
</p>
<p>
This note is a living document, ready to be enriched with ethical wisdom from across the world. Current ideas presented in the note are framed by a western perspective, so further international collaboration is desired.
</p>
<p>
Too often, data ethics is presented as a solution to avoid the unacceptable consequences of data misuse. This note will aim to demonstrate that this conversation is not only necessary out of fear of misuse, but more importantly, to unlock geospatial data's full potential. Users will only contribute their location data if they trust the systems collecting these data and drawing inferences from them. These data may, in turn, improve the well-being and sustainability of our societies.
</p>

</section>
<section id='data-ethics'>
<h2>Data Ethics</h2>
<p>
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -220,6 +223,26 @@ <h3>Geolocation Specifically</h3>
which consent was given.
</p>
</section>
<section id="on-legal-frameworks">
<h3>A Note On Legal Frameworks</h3>
<p>
It's important to note that the law outlines our minimum compliance requirements. The existing laws give people rights, but they don't necessarily protect them. Often people are not necessarily aware that their data is being collected and shared because that is hidden somewhere in the privacy statements and terms and conditions of use. People rarely read these documents. Equally, people are often unaware of their rights, and therefore ill equipped to assert the rights outlined above when they are violated.
</p>
<p>
Individuals rarely feel the risks associated with mass collection of data. This gives great power to the collectors and users of the data who may well exploit that power for personal gain rather than considering the protection of the individuals and groups that might be harmed and affected by their actions.
</p>
<p>
From an ethical standpoint, it is the responsibility of collectors and users of data to protect individuals and groups whose data they collect and use. This includes giving them control over their data, or to proactively meet the rights discussed above so that people can be confident that their data is properly managed. For example, by:
</p>
<ul>
<li>giving people by default clear access to their data;</li>
<li>giving people by default control and ownership over the collection and use of their data; and</li>
<li>erasing people's data by default at a certain point unless people opt-out.</li>
</ul>
<p>
Collectors and users of data should take this responsibility seriously, and consider the design choices in section [[[#design-choices]]] in this note.
</p>
</section>
<section id='more-information-legal-frameworks'>
<h3>More Information</h3>
<p>
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