---
title: "CARE principles"
source: The Turing Way
source_url: https://github.com/the-turing-way/the-turing-way
licence: CC-BY-4.0
domain: data-and-analysis
subdomain: turing-way
date_added: 2026-04-25
---

(rr-rdm-care)=
# CARE principles
Concerns about secondary use of data and limited opportunities for benefit-sharing for Indigenous Peoples have led to the development of the CARE principles, which were published first in 2020 ([](https://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2020-043)). The pervasive bias across data ecosystems, institutions and communities indicate the importance of addressing inequities at multiple levels. 

> "‘CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance’ (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, and Ethics) in consultation with Indigenous Peoples, scholars, non-profit organizations, and governments. The CARE Principles are people– and purpose-oriented, reflecting the crucial role of data in advancing innovation, governance, and self-determination among Indigenous Peoples." ([](https://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2020-043))

The CARE Principles of Indigenous Data Sovereignty apply whenever you’re collecting data with or that belong to a particular community. CARE stands for **C**ollective benefit, **A**uthority to control, **R**esponsability, and **E**thics.

**Collective Benefit**

Data must facilitate collective benefit to enable Indigenous People to achieve inclusive development and innovation, improve governance and citizen engagement, and realize equitable outcomes.

**Authority to Control**

Recognition of the rights of Indigenous communities to govern data.

This may also include consideration about the governance structure of the data repository and the location of the data servers.

**Responsibility**

Those working with Indigenous data have a responsibility to share how those data are used to support Indigenous Peoples’ self determination and collective benefit.

**Ethics**

Indigenous Peoples’ rights and well being should be the primary concern at all stages of the data life cycle and across the data ecosystem.

```{figure} ../../../figures/care-principles.*
---
name: care-principles
alt: >
  Image in teal and grey scale showing the abbreviation CARE with all of the three subprinciples per letter. 
  In between the CARE letters there is a connection symbol which forms a cross and two smaller squares next to it.
  C stands for Collective Benefit. 
  C1 is for inclusive development and innovation.
  C2 is for improvement governance and citizen engagement.
  C3 is for equitable outcomes.
  A stands for Authority to Control. 
  A1 - recognizing rights and interests.
  A2 - data for governance
  A3 - Governance of data
  R stands for responsibility.
  R1 for positive relationships
  R2 for expanding capability and capacity.
  R3 for Indigenous languages and worldviews
  E stands for ethics.
  E1 for minimizing harm and maximizing benefit.
  E2 for justice.
  E3 for future use. 
---
The CARE principles, figure by [](https://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2020-043).
```

The [Global Indigenous Data Alliance](https://www.gida-global.org/care) has made further resources available and translated the CARE principles in other languages. 

The genomic ([](https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.1052620)), as well as the ecology/biodiversity ([](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02161-2)), research communities have worked on a framework for enhancing ethical genomic research with Indigenous communities.

Whenever you are handling data that belongs to an Indigenous or other under-served community, the CARE principles are more important than the benefits of [](#rr-open-data).

(rr-rdm-care-tklabels)=
## Labels for Traditional Knowledge (TK label)
The majority of data and software licenses does not incorporate Indigenous considerations of data sharing. 
The [Traditional Knowledge (TK) Labels](https://localcontexts.org/labels/traditional-knowledge-labels/) are an initiative for Indigenous communities and local organizations that aims to address this shortcoming. 
TK Labels allow communities to express local and specific conditions for sharing and engaging in future research and relationships in ways that are consistent with already existing community rules, governance and protocols for using, sharing and circulating knowledge and data. 

(rr-rdm-care-information)=
## More information
- [Indigenous Data Sovereignty toolkit](https://nwac-afac.ca/assets-documents/Indigenous-Data-Sovereignty-Toolkit-EN.pdf) by the Native Women's Association of Canada
- [The Dissonance between Scientific Altruism... - Joseph M Yracheta - BOSC](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7CKpbW1RoQ)
- [Working with the CARE principles: operationalising Indigenous data governance](https://www.adalovelaceinstitute.org/blog/care-principles-operationalising-indigenous-data-governance/)
- [Responsible Datasets in Context](https://www.responsible-datasets-in-context.com/)
- [Selected Readings on Indigenous Data Governance](https://medium.com/data-stewards-network/selected-readings-on-indigenous-data-governance-2026-update-ab7e66fb579d) by the Data Stewards Network (DSN)
