Architecting trustworthy public safety intelligence systems: Ethical, privacy and governance imperatives
Senior Data Architect, Seattle, WA, United States.
Review Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2020, 08(03), 550-560
Publication history:
Received on 04 December 2020; revised on 22 December 2020; accepted on 29 December 2020
Abstract:
Public safety organizations increasingly rely on digital information to guide emergency response, coordinate resources, and support operational decision-making. Advances in communication technologies, data integration platforms, and analytical tools have expanded the volume and types of information available to responders, enhancing situational awareness and improving response effectiveness. However, this growing dependence on data also raises significant ethical and privacy concerns. Sensitive personal details collected during emergencies, combined with expanded data retention and interagency sharing, create risks related to over-collection, mission creep, transparency gaps, and inequitable outcomes. This paper examines the ethical and privacy implications of data-driven public safety intelligence, drawing from research in emergency response systems, information ethics, cybersecurity, and organizational decision-making (Badiru & Racz, 2014; Bender et al., 2017; Jackson et al., 2010; Grumbling et al., 2016). The analysis identifies emerging challenges faced by public safety agencies and outlines principles for responsible data architecture and governance. By balancing operational effectiveness with strong protections for individual rights, public safety agencies can maintain public trust while leveraging data to strengthen emergency response.
Keywords:
Public Safety Data; Emergency Response; Data Ethics; Privacy; Data Governance; Information Systems; Digital Decision-Making
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Copyright information:
Copyright © 2020 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0