The Data Ethics Canvas is a tool developed by the Open Data Institute (ODI) for anyone who collects, shares or uses data. It helps identify and manage ethical issues – at the start of a project that uses data, and throughout. There are four categories, with a different colour-code:
- Know your Data (Pink)
- Explore your Impact (Yellow)
- Plan your Engagement (Green)
- Integrate into Processes (Blue)
It encourages you to ask important questions about projects that use data, and reflect on the responses. These might be:
- What is your primary purpose for using data in this project?
- Who could be negatively affected by this project?
The Data Ethics Canvas provides a framework to develop ethical guidance that suits any context, whatever the project’s size or scope.