With smart technology becoming more accessible, people are bringing more devices into their homes and neighbourhoods. Although the devices can help with monitoring, efficiency and security, devices tend to be constantly collecting data, whether that is location data, recording video or audio, or tracking usage or behaviours. This means more people are collecting data about themselves and others, but people might not be aware of the potential risk and impact this could have on others. This data is also being shared with the organisations that support the devices. With aspects of people’s lives being closely monitored it means that very personal insights into our lives are being collected by private companies and potentially shared or sold to third parties.
To help encourage conversations around consent and responsible data collection, the agency will create a campaign to promote and encourage people to be ‘Responsible data collectors’. Through posters and digital adverts, the aim is to show the importance of caring for and respecting each other’s data and the potential risks or impact when collecting personal data about others. The campaign focuses on topics such as personal security, smart devices, digitally tracking family members or loved ones, sharing information (purposefully or by mistake) about others on social media and making informed choices about which organisations to share your data with. The agency will offer a guide on how to be a responsible data collector and as part of the campaign run sessions in existing community spaces like libraries where people can learn how to be responsible with their own and others’ data.
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Citizens Data Agency 