CARE data principles

Collective benefit. Authority to control. Responsibility. Ethics.

The CARE principles were developed in 2020 by the the Global Indigenous Data Alliance to guide the collective benefit, authority to control, responsibility, and ethics of data governance involving Indigenous and marginalised communities. These principles complement FAIR by centring on people and relationships.

CARE ensures that data governance respects Indigenous rights and worldviews, addresses historical power imbalances, and promotes equitable participation in data use and reuse.

While CARE principles were developed to guide the stewardship of Indigenous data, their emphasis on collective benefit, ethical responsibility, and control is also relevant to any research involving human participants, particularly so when working with marginalised groups or culturally sensitive information.

Collective benefit

C1. For inclusive development and innovation

C2. For improved governance and citizen engagement

C3. For equitable outcomes

Authority to control

A1. For recognising rights and interests

A2. For data for governance

A3. For governance of data

Responsibility

R1. For positive relationships

R2. For expanding capability and capacity

R3. For Indigenous languages and worldviews

Ethics

E1. For minimising harm and maximising benefit

E2. For justice

E3. For future use

CARE principles in practice

Applying the CARE principles means embedding respect, accountability, and equity into every stage of the data lifecycle, from collection, to sharing, and reuse. CARE encourages researchers to actively engage with the communities their data represent.

In practice, this could include engaging communities early and often, with meaningful participation in decisions about how data are collected, used, and shared. It could also include recognising rights and interests, including community ownership of knowledge, stories, and culturally significant information, as well as ensuring data benefit the community, for example by sharing results in accessible formats or supporting local priorities.

CARE is a commitment to ethical data relationships. It requires reflection on power dynamics, historical context, and community-defined values when working with human and Indigenous data.