http://www.humanitarian.info/2009/04/10/unwieldy-it-monsters-and-how-to-kill-them/ because information can save lives Sun, 05 Sep 2010 20:03:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 http://www.humanitarian.info/2009/04/10/unwieldy-it-monsters-and-how-to-kill-them/comment-page-1/#comment-256309 Paul Currion Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:03:53 +0000 http://www.humanitarian.info/?p=557#comment-256309 Exactly right - the critical issues are social and organisational, not technical. However it's easy for organisations to use confidentiality as a fig leaf for not releasing data, which is particularly ironic given that many organisations put almost no additional effort into securing sensitive data. My position is laid out in <a href="http://www.humanitarian.info/2006/04/20/5-years-of-information-management-for-humanitarian-operations/" rel="nofollow">this post</a> - and I believe that truly sensitive data forms only a small part of the data that is being collected by humanitarian organisations. Exactly right – the critical issues are social and organisational, not technical. However it’s easy for organisations to use confidentiality as a fig leaf for not releasing data, which is particularly ironic given that many organisations put almost no additional effort into securing sensitive data. My position is laid out in this post – and I believe that truly sensitive data forms only a small part of the data that is being collected by humanitarian organisations.

]]> http://www.humanitarian.info/2009/04/10/unwieldy-it-monsters-and-how-to-kill-them/comment-page-1/#comment-256304 conneally Sun, 12 Apr 2009 08:14:56 +0000 http://www.humanitarian.info/?p=557#comment-256304 I think there are a number of issues in your post above and beyond straightforward data management. One is internal communication systems and the other is confidentiality. I am especially concerned by the latter. As humanitarians I believe we have an obligation to protect the personal data of those we aim to assist to the highest levels possible. I am not aware of widespread standards out there on this issue would be interested to hear of any protocols if they exist, no matter if little used. When you think of the type of information held on humanitarian communities - issues such as sexual violence, psychological reports on trafficking, child abuse, political persecution, detention records etc. - it has enormous potential to cause more damage if in the wrong hands, and in the long term undermine the confidence and impartiality which most humanitarian organizations try to cultivate with those affected by such grave problems. Perhaps the approach cannot be too 'open' or bottom up nor can it be too centralized but it should aim for common practices, shared protocols and a community-wide determination to protect the personal data of all humanitarian beneficiaries. I think there are a number of issues in your post above and beyond straightforward data management. One is internal communication systems and the other is confidentiality. I am especially concerned by the latter. As humanitarians I believe we have an obligation to protect the personal data of those we aim to assist to the highest levels possible. I am not aware of widespread standards out there on this issue would be interested to hear of any protocols if they exist, no matter if little used. When you think of the type of information held on humanitarian communities – issues such as sexual violence, psychological reports on trafficking, child abuse, political persecution, detention records etc. – it has enormous potential to cause more damage if in the wrong hands, and in the long term undermine the confidence and impartiality which most humanitarian organizations try to cultivate with those affected by such grave problems. Perhaps the approach cannot be too ‘open’ or bottom up nor can it be too centralized but it should aim for common practices, shared protocols and a community-wide determination to protect the personal data of all humanitarian beneficiaries.

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