International Journal of Digital Earth

The implementation of AI ethics guidelines and good data governance is essential for Digital Earth applications to ensure that the benefits of these technologies are achieved without causing harm or violating the rights of persons. With the increasing use of AI in various domains, including Digital Earth applications, it is important to establish guidelines that ensure values such as transparency, accountability, and fairness in the use of these technologies. Good data governance practices also play a crucial role in ensuring that the data used in these applications promote the creation of public value and data sovereignty, and in including less powerful actors, such as individuals and marginalized communities, in data governance practices within Digital Earth.

Ethical principles and guidelines, however, are based on moral values. While there may be shared principles and values, there are also many local variations or differences in how the general might be interpreted and applied at the local level. Similarly, different cultural views about rights and obligations mean different criteria for what constitutes good data governance. There is a noticeable tension between market-driven approaches and more socially-driven ones, for instance, or between consumer rights versus civic rights. Adapting general ethical principles or governance guidelines to the local context is thus important to maximize the benefits to society.

The aim of this Article Collection is to share, critique and develop good practices regarding AI ethics and data governance for Digital Earth, with a strong focus on implementation. We welcome contributions related to:

• Use cases and implementations of AI ethics and/or data governance for Digital Earth applications.
• New questions about the domains of AI ethics and/or data governance when considering Digital Earth applications specifically.
• Frameworks for assessing AI ethics and/or data governance issues within Digital Earth.
• Gaps in such frameworks when applied to Digital Earth applications.
• How emerging guidelines and legislation regarding AI ethics and/or data governance will affect Digital Earth applications.
• Examples of trade-offs between ethical values during the implementation of Digital Earth workflows and systems.
• How ethics and governance related to Digital Earth are being or should be taught to promote ethical practitioners

Contributions that elucidate the trade-off between global and local values are particularly welcome, as are ones that specifically focus on ethics and data governance regarding minority or vulnerable populations.

Original research and critical commentaries or reviews are welcome. Although this collection focuses on implementation, please note that contributions must have sufficient scientific novelty, be it theoretical or empirical. If you would like to contribute to the special issue but are unsure whether your topic fits the scope of this collection, please contact the Guest Advisors.

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