A look at the current debate around digital ethics and the information provided to examine is the charity sector prioritising digital ethics?
As digital tools and tech become embedded in our lives and how we work, there are particular perils to avoid. With so much information out there, is the charity sector prioritising digital ethics?
What should charities do? There has been a burst of guides and frameworks to help organisations tailor their use of digital.
The Charity Digital Code of Practice was published in November 2018. It helps organisations to measure their digital progress and consists of 7 elements:
It can seem like a lot but try treating the code as a guide on your journey towards a more digitally integrated workplace and talk to friends across the charity sector to see how they have done it. Remember, a small digital step could have a large impact so you don’t need to change everything as you know it!
The sheer amount of new information can seem a little daunting. Here’s someone who did it and who could show you how. The Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) asked DataKind UK to help develop a digital framework. You can view it here, as well as a list of questions for charities to consider. DataKind UK developed the digital ethics framework by considering the following aspects:
Have a look at the Digital Development Principles. Based on charities using tech to help vulnerable people, it can help you pick out the strands you want to focus on.
Are you implementing digital ethics already? You can check your charity’s digital ethics score here and think about things such as the security of your customer data and how you use AI. You can also weigh up the environmental impact of your digital work and see how digital adds to employee wellbeing.
In terms of how digital ethics applies to the charity sector, we reported on the key digital ethics debates you should be aware of. You can check out these elements and how to safeguard against any possible issues:
There is a wide range of guides and frameworks to help you to familiarise yourself with the issues and continue to use digital in a way that helps you work on your mission and serve your service users. As regulation continues to protect vulnerable people in society and online, charities can embed digital ethics into their digital presence and continue to work on the basis of their principles.
The government has published new guidance about AI in the public sector. The report outlines the many uses for AI in the public sector but stresses the importance of ethical and safety concerns. It discusses the possible risks and offers practical solutions to avoid pitfalls and advises a culture of responsible innovation and governance processes.
As organisations across the sector advise on and implement digital ethics, the sector can protect itself. Charities can continue to meet the ethical expectations of the general public without being hampered or hindered by the dark side of digital.