Building Trust: Ethics and Accountability in Civic Tech Innovation
Written by Sinenhlanhla Kheswa
Civic technology (civic tech), also known as ‘tech for good’, is inherently designed to help address societal issues. It aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and public service delivery by empowering citizens to hold their governments accountable through digital tools and platforms that promote engagement and participation. However, there is a need to examine the ethical codes governing the development and application of civic tech in various development contexts.
In the latest Digital Dialogue, organised by the International Civil Society Centre (ICSC) and the Civic Tech Innovation Network (CTIN), the panellists explored the principles and ethics guiding the development of responsible technology. The panellists included Kavisha Pillay, Founding Director of Campaign on Digital Ethics (CODE); Daniela Weber, Deputy Director for NetHope’s Centre of Digital Non-profit; and Ed Schenkenberg van Mierop, Executive Director of Here-Geneva. The discussion highlighted the importance of developing civic tech with the product end user in mind.
When speaking on accountability in civic tech, it is important to acknowledge and understand ethics within local contexts. Pillay alludes that the principles and frameworks that govern digital ethics are not clearly defined, and further introduces fundamental principles integral to civic tech initiatives, namely: data privacy and protection, transparency and accountability, fairness and equity, autonomy and consent, and societal impact. To support this, Kavisha referenced a case of surveillance technology in Cape Town that combats gun violence by identifying the areas in which these are prevalent. However, the technology would not only identify instances of gun violence but also capture conversations while aiming to address a societal issue. Kavisha highlighted how the digital solution violates the privacy of community members and takes away the right of consent, while also raising questions of transparency in users’ data collection.
Schenkenberg raised an important aspect in civic tech development, that of considering and understanding the role Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) play in responding to humanitarian issues. Conceding to Pillay’s point of view, Schenkenberg highlighted the importance of discerning “to what degree the means and tools at our disposal would improve the work, and to what degree it would involve risks”. Weber added that access to digital skills is important to “effectively and efficiently use technology in humanitarian and development settings.” According to Weber, it is crucial that CSOs and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) are supported with training to enhance digital skills, understand the risks, limitations, and technology usage without risking harm. Furthermore, Weber suggested that “collective action” is needed to influence policies and ensure the appropriate use of technology.
Additionally, representation was also raised as a factor in governing civic tech development. Weber advised, “we must ensure that the data used in Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions is representative of communities, representing languages, dialects, accents that have been generated by citizens on the ground”. Weber further suggested that civic tech development should be “a step-by-step process”, by innovators and stakeholders to understand the problems they are aiming to solve first, discerning if AI really can be the solution to the problem, and thereafter, building a prototype to verify the need to adopt the AI.
In conclusion, panellists call for a vigorous testing by regulators, assessing social harm that civic tech may pose; and for civic innovators to willingly self-regulate and ensure compliance of the tech they develop with digital ethics. They further urged for a unified effort to embed ethical frameworks into the core of technological innovation. This process entails fostering ongoing dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge exchange among stakeholders.
By adhering to these principles, the panellists asserted that we could harness technology’s capabilities to drive positive societal change, all while upholding essential ethical standards.
Watch the full dialogue on our YouTube channel here.
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