Resource Data Data Governance

Responsible Data Practices for Product Equity

This guide outlines ethical frameworks and best practices for responsibly collecting and using demographic and other sensitive data to build equitable digital products.

Organization: Aspen Digital
Published Year: 2025

The guide begins by emphasizing the need to balance understanding users, especially those from systemically marginalized communities, with responsible data stewardship.

It offers a structured framework for data teams to follow before and during collection, covering risk assessment, transparency, informed consent, anonymity safeguards, and opt-out options. The primer draws on extensive consultation with product equity practitioners, provides case examples, and encourages cross-sector collaboration to develop industry standards emphasizing equity and harm mitigation.