Data Management Ethics

Prepared by: Mohamed Awadhi

Data Ethics
Sub-enabling Outcomes

 Explain permission and consent seeking procedures

 Describe privacy and objectivity issues
 Adhere data collection ethics
Reminder

Data is not just information; it is power. It can shape

behaviors, influence decisions, and even define the course
of our lives. Therefore it is important to considering Ethical
issues in collection and management of data.
Introduction
 Data can be collected for various reasons:
a) To be used in a survey studies i.e. Survey Researches
b) To be used in a Pilot studies
c) To be used in National Censuses
d) To be used in business decision making
e) Other works such as Preparation of Socio-economic Profiles, Strategic
Planning (SP) and many other purposes.

For all these purposes, Individuals must abide with Data Ethics during the
whole process of data management
Data Management

 Data management is the practice of collecting, keeping,

and using data securely, efficiently, and cost-
effectively.
 Data management comprises all disciplines related to
handling data as a valuable resource, it is the practice of
managing an organization’s data so it can be analyzed for
decision making
 In the whole process of data management, there is a need
to consider Data Ethics
Data ethics

 Data ethics is critical in the digital era, encompassing the

moral aspects of data generation, collection, and
utilization.

 Data ethics is the branch of ethics that addresses the

generation, collection, sharing, and use of data. It
considers how data practices respect values like privacy,
fairness, and transparency, as well as the balance
between individual rights and societal benefits.
Reasons why data ethics matter

 Protection of personal privacy

With the vast amounts of data being collected every second,
individuals’ privacy is at risk. Data ethics provides a
guideline for maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of
this data, ensuring that personal information is not misused.
Conti…

 Transparency and trust

Companies and institutions that adhere to good data ethics
are more transparent about their data practices. This
openness builds trust with customers, employees, and
stakeholders, which is essential for long-term success and
sustainability.
Conti…

 Equitable decision making

When data is used to drive decisions - be it in healthcare,
finance, or law enforcement - ethical considerations ensure
that the decisions made should avoid discrimination or bias.
Principles of Data collection Ethics

Fundamental data collection ethics:

 Transparency
 Consent and control
 Privacy and security
 Fairness and non-discrimination
 Data minimization
 Accountability
Transparency

 Transparency is about being open and clear about the

data collection and processing practices.
 The provider of information must clearly know the intent
of data being collected.
 Survey researchers should be transparent about how they
collect and use data. This meant they should provide clear
and concise information about the survey, how the data
will be used, and who will have access to it.
Consent and control

 A person involved in data collection must ensure they

obtain explicit consent from individuals before collecting
or processing their data. Moreover, individuals or providers
of the information or data should have control over their
own data, including the ability to access, modify, or
delete it.
 Individuals should be allowed to opt in or out of the
survey, and they should be clear about what data will be
collected and how it will be used.
Privacy and security

 Safeguarding personal data is a critical ethical

responsibility. Data collectors must use secure methods
to protect data from unauthorized access, breaches, or
leaks, and respect the privacy of the individuals whose
data they handle.
 Survey researchers should take steps to protect the
security of the data they collect. This includes using
strong encryption and other security measures to prevent
unauthorized access to data
Fairness and non-discrimination

 The use of data should not perpetuate or lead to

discrimination or bias.
 Data practices should be fair and equitable to all, and
don’t inadvertently reinforce existing societal
inequalities.
Accountability

 Data collectors must be accountable for their data

practices when collecting and managing of data.
 If something goes wrong, such as a data breach individuals
must take full responsibility and rectify the issue.
 This means that survey researchers' should have clear
policies and procedures in place for handling data, and
they should be able to demonstrate that they are
complying with these policies and procedures
Data minimization

 Individuals should gather only the essential information

required for a particular purpose.
 Excessive data collection can lead to increased risks of
data breaches and privacy violations.
User rights
 Individuals should have certain rights over their data, such
as the right to access their data, the right to correct their
data, and the right to delete their data. Survey
researchers should respect these rights.
Privacy laws
 Many countries and jurisdictions now have privacy laws
that researchers should carefully consider and incorporate
in their data collection projects. This mitigates the
possibility of being on the wrong side of legal systems and
respects the interests of the survey subjects.
 For instance in Tanzania, there is Personal Data Protection
Act and Personal Data Protection (Collection and
Processing of Personal Data) Regulations, 2023
Summary of Principles of Data Ethics
Task
 Read the Personal Data Protection Act No. 11 of 2022 and
Personal Data Protection (Collection and Processing of
Personal Data) Regulations, 2023 and Summarize them
within 5 pages.
Group Task
 Assume that your Group has a task of preparing Kisesa
Ward Socio-economic Profile. The task is scheduled to
commence two month from know.
a) Describe all the procedures for seeking permissions and
consent
b) Prepare a tool (Questionnaire) that will assist you in
during data collection i.e. Choose any two Sectors of your
choice and prepare a tool for data collection
Note: In preparing a tool for data collection you can review
previous socio-economic profiles from Iringa Region Socio-
economic profile and Kagera Socio-economic profile.