The Locus Charter proposes that wider, shared understanding of risks and solutions relating to uses of location data can improve standards of practice, and help protect individuals and the public interest. We hope the Charter can improve understanding of risk, so those can be managed, and the many benefits of geospatial technologies can be realized for individuals and societies.
“Locus” is the Latin word for “place.”
ABOUT US
Since 2019, the Benchmark and EthicalGEO initiatives have supported international dialogues with geospatial professionals and organizations, to explore what it means to use location data responsibly in different contexts. These dialogues have strongly suggested that common international principles could help users of geospatial data make more informed decisions, and provide the basis for communication with people affected by those decisions.
Developing common global principles must be a collaborative activity, respecting international contexts and perspectives. The Locus Charter as presented here was developed through our initial international workshops, and forms the basis for further collaboration. Click on the button below to read the full Charter.
The Locus Charter is now available in Spanish! Click on the button below to read the Charter in Spanish. Stay tuned for the Locus Charter in more languages!
OUR SUPPORTERS
Learn more about our Supporters and how to get involved by clicking the link below.
FOUNDING PRINCIPLES
GET INVOLVED
We are inviting interested individuals and organizations to use these principles, share them, help us improve them, and join a network of people working together to promote ethical use of location data.
For more information on how you can get involved, please submit an interested form by clicking the link below.
Click on the link below to read, download, and share our Engagement Letter (now also available in Spanish).
For more information about joining the Locus Charter as a Supporter, or if your organization is ready to sign the Engagement Letter, please email noveisi@americangeo.org.
