Participative Decision Making and the Sharing of Benefits: Laws, ethics, and data protection for building extended global communities

Transdisciplinary and cross-cultural cooperation collaboration are needed to build extended, densely interconnected information resources. These the prerequisites for successful implementation execution of, example, an ambitious monitoring framework accompanying post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) of Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD; SCBD 2021). Data infrastructures that meet requirements preferences concerned communities can focus attract community involvement, thereby promoting participatory decision making sharing benefits. Community acceptance, in turn, drives development data resources use. Earlier this year, alliance biodiversity knowledge (2021a) conducted forum-based consultations seeking input designing next generation digital specimen representations consequently enhanced infrastructures. The multitudes connections arise from extending through linkages all “directions” will form a powerful network research application. Yet, with power accessible comes responsibility protect sensitive (e.g., locations threatened populations, culturally context-sensitive traditional knowledge, or businesses’ fundamental infrastructure assets). In addition, existing legislation regulates access fair equitable Current negotiations ‘Digital Sequence Information’ under CBD suggest such obligations might increase become more complex context extensible networks. For case funded by taxpayers EU, should follow general principle being “as open as possible; closed is legally necessary” (cp. EC 2016). At same time, international regulations Nagoya Protocol (SCBD 2011) need be taken into account. Summarizing main outcomes consultation discussions forum thread “Meeting legal/regulatory, ethical obligations” (alliance 2021b), we propose ten guidelines functionalities achieve building drive application: Substantially contribute conservation protection 2020). Use language conformant. Show importance continuing design GBF, well mobilisation aggregation its elements indicators. Strive openly publish much metadata possible online. Establish well-thought-out layer user management, ensuring security ‘sensitive data’. Encrypt where necessary at level individual object; provide via cryptographic keys. Link obligations, rights cultural regarding use key (e.g. CARE principles (Carroll et al. 2020), Local Context-labels (Local Contexts 2021), licenses, permits, loan agreements, etc.). Implement transactional system records every transaction. Amplify workforce capacity across realm, work areas workflows. Do no harm (EC 2020): Reduce social ecological footprint implementation, aiming long-term sustainable life-cycle, including development, management stages. Balancing needs access, protection, accountability sustainability, designed function robust interface between (research) implementing representations, myriad applications operations real world. With legal, layers place, legal clarity providers users, specifically benefit Protocol. Forming characteristics envisioned flexible finely-grained, adjustable fulfill wide range stakeholders communities, while remaining focused natural Respecting different value systems national policies, expected allow divergence views coexist balance differing interests. Thus, many users. This foundation has potential bring together diverse global using, managing protecting biodiversity.