The way we use data and algorithms will define our future.

We need ethical data pioneers to lead the way.

The future social will be dominated by those who can better use algorithms to appeal to emotions.

While digital advertising may not convince everyone, there is no doubt that data has played a significant role in recent western elections. Perhaps more damaging is it’s ongoing role in driving hyper-partisanship and social division.

The best databases of emotional opinion don’t belong to the political parties, they are in the hands of companies and non-partisan campaigning organizations.

The political landscape is completely fractured and it’s new form is unknown, across completely different lines to the old party politics. 

Many progressive organizations find the ethics of algorithms to be crippling - and so hand influence to those seeking to manipulate and divide. 

Too afraid of doing something wrong, most simply do nothing or play safe. Others, finding the situation too complex, do nothing, and end up using the same techniques as “the others”, relying on hope and good intentions to get them through.

We need the standard bearers of a more progressive path, organizations that use data to benefit society and support individuals to make better choices and to sense interconnectedness. 

We don’t yet know what the algorithmic politics of the next decade looks like, but there will be a very clear distinction between those who use data to confuse and manipulate, and those who’s algorithms bring clarity and hope. 

Crossed thumbs and good intentions are not enough. The network nature of ethics in an online world requires active engagement and constant questioning. 

There is always bias. There are always unintended consequences. There are always other ways to use the tools we create. The new technology we use will always be too complex for everyone to understand.

Unless organizations engage with the ethics of their data and innovation at a systemic level, they will not be able to address the complexity that arises. 

Ethics is not compliance. Ethics is bigger. Focusing on simply getting to the low bar turns ethics into a set of rules and restrictions - being good becomes something that holds you back. 

Over the last few years I’ve worked with campaigning organizations, financial companies and educational institutions and I’ve seen just how much these organizations have struggled. By aiming at the bottom rung, compliance, they never had the vision to get people engaged. Ethics, rather than providing meaning and energy, became chains. 

It’s time to tell a different story. We need a few visionary organizations to stand up and lead the way. Real ethics provides meaning and hope, it inspires engagement and will drive creativity. 

When approached in a systemic way, data ethics is not actually that hard. It simply requires an inclusive, human centred approach. Involve as many people as possible, and grow understanding and processes over time. 

There are no quick fixes, there is just a culture shift. Create a culture that respects the power of data, and encourages people to ask the right questions. 

Systemic Data Ethics

The Systemic Data Ethics Framework is my contribution to the cause.

It's a whole system framework to assist organizations to develop practical, short and long term data ethics strategies.