Hello Rebecca,
Just to add to the conversation: I wrote the chapter on digital ethics for the 'Routledge Companion to Museum Ethics', which came out in 2011, edited by Janet Marstine:
http://bit.ly/1pvoV7T
Part of this reflected upon the ways in which, with social media, museums are building relationships with individuals and communities using protocols around disclosure, care and trust that the sector is, perhaps, only still mastering. When it comes to social media, the sector is still in the process of defining these parameters of how to observe, how to moderate, when (and how) to react and intervene, and where the limits of responsibility (for both institution and user alike) might be.
The chapter also goes on to reflect upon the 'new ethics' around mobile media, multi-sensory media (particularly with respect to accessible design), and even linked data.
I hope that's helpful.
Ross
Dr Ross Parry
College Academic Director (Arts, Humanities and Law)
Senior Lecturer (School of Museum Studies)
University of Leicester
Museum Studies Building, 19 University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RF, UK
t: 0116 252 3963 e: [log in to unmask]
w: http://www.le.ac.uk/ms/contactus/rossparry.html
-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rebecca Atkinson
Sent: 25 September 2014 15:05
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MCG] Ethics and digital technology
Hi all - thanks to everyone who replied on and off list about how digital could be represented in the Museums Association's review of the code of ethics. I'll be feeding many of these thoughts back to the panel next week.
One further question - only person mentioned ethics around using social media. A thing that came to my mind would be commercial endorsements and also privacy, but I wondered if there were any other ethical considerations around social media that people on the list have come across?
As always I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Rebecca Atkinson
Online publications editor - Museum Practice and Museums Journal Museums Association
Tel: 01274 404851
Twitter: @rebeccaa_ma
email: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nick Poole
Sent: 08 September 2014 13:01
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MCG] Ethics and digital technology
Dear Rebecca,
Thanks very much for your email, and it is really excellent news that the MA is looking at the ethical issues associated with the digital agenda.
I wanted to reply on-list so that people have a chance to contradict my view of things!
The Collections Trust's view is that 'digital' is not a separate entity, but - in the words of John Stack and the tate Digital Strategy - a 'dimension of everything'. Accordingly, we would suggest reviewing the Code of Ethics from two angles:
i) The extent to which 'digital' (meaning both systems of record and systems of engagement) is appropriately integrated into existing parts of the code, and
ii) Whether there are specific ethical issues associated solely with the digital agenda which ought to be incorporated.
In specific terms, we would encourage you to consider:
- Updating the definition of 'museum' in the glossary to acknowledge that a museum can be an organised assemblage of collected evidence of human activity - which includes physical, digital and intellectual material.
- The particular issues of provenance and propaganda in the use of digital material, assets and collections-based information under [Section 1: Hold collections in trust on behalf of society]. The maintenance of the integrity of the digital record is becoming an increasingly important artefact of the trusted status of museums in a digital age and we feel that it would be beneficial to acknowledge this alongside the ethical considerations associated with custodianship of material culture.
- The possibility of expanding [Section 2. Focus on Public Service] to acknowledge the responsibility of museums to use appropriate technologies to seek to overcome or minimise the impact of social, economic or digital exclusion.
- To re-assert the value and relevance of [Section 3. Encourage people to explore collections for inspiration, learning and enjoyment] - also to the 'digital' work of museums. Re-reading this section, we were really struck by how appropriate it already is to a digital context so this is less a suggested extension and more a question of ensuring that digital practitioners in museums are aware of and make reference to these principles.
- Under item [4.3] concerning the misuse of power and the need to consult communities - there are ethical concerns about rights and equality of representation in a digital environment which it might be beneficial to consider here. Specific issues include some that have arisen around censorship, propaganda and the marginalisation of communities arising from digitisation projects. Perhaps, given the current wording, it might be useful to expand on the text to make explicit reference to the moral duty to avoid, where possible, the abuse of authority in representing different communities online.
- There is a very large ethical question around the balance between open access to collections information and the provision of services which support the public task through commercialisation. We are not entirely sure to which section this is most relevant, but we do think that it would be beneficial to the Code of Ethics overall to provide some guidance on the reconciliation of public task and the monetisation of intellectual content about or relating to the collections.
- Under [Section 6. Safeguard the long-term public interest in the collections] we think that there is a need to consider the museum's responsibilities for digital preservation in the same context as the promotion of long-term sustainability of and access to the material collection.
- In the same context, we also think that there would be merit in considering the ethical implications associated with the disposal, deletion or transfer of the digital record in the same context as the disposal or withdrawal of access to the physical collection. There is a risk that the 'digital' collection - because it is perceived as more ephemeral - is more prone to editing, deletion or transfer and therefore to the risk of mis-representation.
- Under [Section 10. Review performance to innovate and improve], we think that this is already very useful from a 'digital' perspective, but that this could perhaps be made more explicit. Less in the sense of 'technological' innovation, but more in encouraging museums to embrace the opportunities to innovate both service-provision and the manner in which they relate to their communities which technology affords.
Overall, it is striking how much of the current Code of Ethics is applicable to digital work in museums. It might be worth making a strength of this and publishing an article or paper reminding people of the core 10 principles of the Code and their application to digital activities.
I'd be really interested to hear more about the work you're doing in this area, and I hope some of the above is of use.
All best,
Nick
Nick Poole
Chief Executive Officer
Collections Trust
Join Collections Trust's Collections Management Group Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook
www.collectionstrust.org.uk. Company Registration No: 1300565 Registered Charity No: 273984 Registered Office: Collections Trust, WC 209, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD
-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rebecca Atkinson
Sent: 05 September 2014 15:28
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MCG] Ethics and digital technology
Hi all,
As you might know the Museums Association is currently reviewing the Code of Ethics with a view to widening its focus beyond collections.
One area we're looking at is digital technology (apps, websites, touch screens etc) and social media.
I'm in the process of collating some of the most pressing ethical issues in this area. For example, one issue that has come up in some of our consultations with members is digital exclusion, but I think there are probably much wider ethical issues that the MA's Ethics Committee needs to consider.
I'd be really interested to hear your views on this - you can email me off list if you prefer on [log in to unmask]
Thanks,
Rebecca Atkinson
Online publications editor - Museum Practice and Museums Journal Museums Association
Tel: 01274 404851
Twitter: @rebeccaa_ma
email: [log in to unmask]
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