Codes of Conduct and Ethics aim at encouraging professional and ethical conduct, with the latter usually defined broadly as contributing to the common good of humanity. Such codes embody shared commitments and agreed upon rules helping to create a community, a necessary practice when managing diverse users. They also help sensitise users to new ethical, legal and social challenges, and offer guidance when confronted with different decisions. They can help build wider societal trust in those engaged in collaborative information management. However, they can also work to deflect greater external regulation.

While such codes exist, studies have suggested that many of those engaging with the design and use of information and communication technology are not aware of them and often do not see the issues that might arise in wider society as relevant to the decisions they are making at present.

Codes of conduct for engagement with volunteers online and in situ are seen as important, given the intensive social innovation in this area. Some exist and are listed under ‘Resources’.

Examples

UK Police Code of Ethics: The UK police have a Code of Ethics which all officers must abide by. It lists a number of standards of professional behaviour one of which is Confidentiality, which explains that police officers must ‘treat information with respect, and access or disclose it only in the proper course’ of their duties. The code includes guidelines regarding the handling of information and personal data, and the use of social media. However, there are no other guidelines regarding engaging with collaborative information management. If a member of the public feels that the police have breached this code, they can make a complaint via the police website and/or the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). The IPCC collects complaints and makes that data publicly available. This data is also used in reviews of police performance and how to improve the police forces.

ICRC 2013 Professional standards for Protection Work: The ICRC was one of the first to establish a code of conduct that includes discussion of sensitive data. It focuses on protection work carried out by humanitarian and human rights actors in armed conflict and other situations of violence, but includes more generally useful guidance on what to be aware of and how to manage sensitive data, including chapters on Collecting information from afar: understanding the risks and advantages linked to new technologies and methodologies, Preparing interviews and ensuring informed consent and privacy, Cooperation and exchange.

Social Media Data: People affected by risks and disaster, volunteers, volunteer organisations and others are increasingly turning to social media as they both seek but also generate information. Guidance and codes of conduct to address the challenges and opportunities arising at this juncture are starting to emerge. Examples of such efforts are the collaboration between the mobile industry and the humanitarian sector titled ‘Towards a Code of Conduct: Guidelines for the Use of SMS in Natural Disasters’ (GSMA, 2013) and the IFRC’s guide who together with ICRC and with the support of OCHA published in 2017 a guide on ‘How to Use Social Media to Better Engage People Affected by Crises’ (both available in Resources).