Hello
Just a quick thought that it's important to consider ethics from an
environmental perspective too. Digital devices and digital exhibitions have
a significant ecological footprint as does the consumption of energy by the
use of online services.
Bridget
On Tuesday, 9 September 2014, Rebecca Atkinson <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Thanks Nick and everyone else for your very useful responses.
>
> I'll be feeding this back to the Ethics panel early in October, and will
> keep this list up-to-date with our next steps regarding the Code as we move
> forward. If anyone else has any comments please do get in touch.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Rebecca Atkinson
> Online publications editor - Museum Practice and Museums Journal
> Museums Association
> Tel: 01274 404851
> Twitter: @rebeccaa_ma
> email: [log in to unmask] <javascript:;>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask] <javascript:;>]
> On Behalf Of Nick Poole
> Sent: 08 September 2014 13:01
> To: [log in to unmask] <javascript:;>
> 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] <javascript:;>]
> On Behalf Of Rebecca Atkinson
> Sent: 05 September 2014 15:28
> To: [log in to unmask] <javascript:;>
> 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]
> <javascript:;>.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Rebecca Atkinson
> Online publications editor - Museum Practice and Museums Journal Museums
> Association
> Tel: 01274 404851
> Twitter: @rebeccaa_ma
> email: [log in to unmask] <javascript:;>
>
>
> ****************************************************************
> website: http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/
> Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ukmcg
> Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/museumscomputergroup
> [un]subscribe: http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/email-list/
> ****************************************************************
>
> ****************************************************************
> website: http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/
> Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ukmcg
> Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/museumscomputergroup
> [un]subscribe: http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/email-list/
> ****************************************************************
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> This email has been scanned by the Symantec Email Security.cloud service.
> For more information please visit http://www.symanteccloud.com
> ______________________________________________________________________
>
> ****************************************************************
> website: http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/
> Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ukmcg
> Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/museumscomputergroup
> [un]subscribe: http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/email-list/
> ****************************************************************
>
****************************************************************
website: http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ukmcg
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/museumscomputergroup
[un]subscribe: http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/email-list/
****************************************************************
