While we all want to adhere to open data standards, we need to do so in a way that protects the rights of the people we serve. We need to ensure people’s rights of consent, privacy, security and ownership of the information we collect. Additionally, we need to abide by the laws of the countries in which we work. As the humanitarian space increases its use of data aggregation, analytics and distribution, the proper stewardship of data becomes critical.
The focus of this panel discussion will be on how all actors in the humanitarian space need to work together to ensure that collected data is protected. This panel will seek to answer the following questions:
- What is personally identifiable data and how can we best design our programs to protect and manage it?
- What are the biggest challenges that INGOs, local NGOs, the private sector and donors face in terms of getting data necessary for project implementation while protecting the privacy and rights of those whom we serve?
- How can all parties in the humanitarian space collaborate to ensure that data is handled properly and in accordance with local laws?
- What do we see in the future – will it get harder or easier to manage the data that we collect?
