Data ethics and privacy

Introduction to Data

Maarten Van den Broeck

Senior Content Developer at DataCamp

Basics of data ethics

  • Data can be impactful, but
  • It comes with responsibilities!

Icon representing data use

Introduction to Data

Basics of data ethics

  • Data can be impactful, but
  • It comes with responsibilities!
  • Organizations should ensure:
    • Data collection

Icon representing data collection

Introduction to Data

Basics of data ethics

  • Data can be impactful, but
  • It comes with responsibilities!
  • Organizations should ensure:
    • Data collection
    • Data storage

Icons representing data collection and storage

Introduction to Data

Basics of data ethics

  • Data can be impactful, but
  • It comes with responsibilities!
  • Organizations should ensure:
    • Data collection
    • Data storage
    • Data usage
  • Protect customers' safety
  • Prevent legal issues

Icons representing data collection, storage, and use.png

Introduction to Data

Principles of data ethics

  • Data ethics is constantly evolving

Two programmers in a server room

Introduction to Data

Principles of data ethics

  • Data ethics is constantly evolving

Five principles$^1$

  1. Permission for data collection
  2. Transparency about the plan
  3. Privacy of data
  4. Good intentions
  5. Consider the outcome

Two programmers in a server room

1 Harvard Business School, 2021
Introduction to Data

Permission and transparency

Permission

  • Ask before collecting
  • Users are in control of their data

Transparency

  • Be transparent of how you plan to use, store, and collect data
  • Lack of transparency may lead to reputation and legal damage

A person looking at a document through a magnifying glass

Introduction to Data

Data privacy

  • Privacy refers to secluding (information about) yourself
  • Personal identifiable information (PII) must remain confidential
    • Full name
    • Date of birth
    • Bank account
    • ID card/Passport number
    • Phone number
    • ...

A shield protecting some documents illustrating the concept of cyber security

Introduction to Data

Privacy protection

  • Strong passwords
  • Up-to-date operating systems
  • Cautionary Internet browsing

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  • Individual responsibility

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  • Preventing data breaches:
    • Limit sharing sensitive data
    • (Pseudo-)data anonymization

Set privacy zone, personal barrier to focus or work boundary, space to be with yourself concept, introvert businessman drawing box to cover privacy zone or boundary to protect from distraction.

Introduction to Data

Intentions and outcome

A person using data for multiple tasks

Intentions

  • Data is collected for the right reasons
  • Question yourself about the reasons you collect data

Outcome

  • Are there consequences of my actions?
  • Protecting vulnerable populations
Introduction to Data

Let's practice!

Introduction to Data

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