Data Ethics For Companies

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Over the years businesses and companies have changed ownership, values and even it's purpose and so data that has been gotten over time may become vulnerable to bad people. Some companies on the other hand have started to monetize these data even though that's as not what it was meant for. This has caused people to withdraw from sharing information with companies or even online for fear of it being used for something else. While some companies use it for the right reasons , they are starting to suffer the consequences along with those who use it for the wrong reasons. To avoid this it is important that your business sticks to some data ethics that would improve it's trust and reputation among customers.

As a company it is really important that you respect the data you have obtained as well as the privacies of these trusting users or customers. It's is unethical that you expose these information to other companies without the consent of the customer. It is your company's responsibility that you protect this information as much as possible. If possible data could be collected in a way that it remains anonymous, like excluding names, addresses or even randomize the data so it can't be traced back to a customer or user.

Secondly, define your companies intentions and make sure to stick to it. It is important that your purpose for collecting these data is spelled out even if you intend to use it for other purposes.
That easy misunderstanding and possible court cases are avoided from the onset. What is the data you intend to collect? And What do you intend to do with it? Should be spelled boldly and very obvious so no one can claim they didn't see it.

It is also important that you respect the terms of the agreement. A lot of companies use the data in other ways in a bid to do better than their competition or to impress their customers. Ur usually doesn't end well no matter how you look at it. It is actually better to be safe than sorry because your company's reputation could be on the line. If the data is to be sold eventually, let it be known to the users from the beginning and if possible give them access to be able to monitor how it is used. Access to this information should also be limited to employees who have to work with this information directly and not just anyone.

They could also be made to sign an agreement to be santioned if they fail to follow the rules.
In cases of company's transfer, it is mandatory that the old company makes sure the new company protects and respects data that has been collected over time. This applies to companies that buy data for surveys or research. In cases of violation, some countries sanction the old company and some the new, either way it is important that both parties do the needful so they can both be safe.