Declaration record
The Forum Avignon initiated this preliminary declaration during the Forum Avignon @Paris on 19 September 2014. Its purpose was to open a public conversation about the responsibilities attached to the collection, use and circulation of personal data.
Why the declaration was proposed
The initiative treated personal data as more than a technical resource. Data can reveal aspects of private life, cultural preferences and social participation, making its treatment a matter of democratic trust and individual dignity.
The proposal sought a balanced framework: one that could support research and social and economic development while preserving personal autonomy and cultural diversity. It was presented as an ethical point of reference rather than a substitute for laws, which must continue to reflect the contexts in which they are made.
resource note. This page preserves the declaration as a historical contribution to debates about digital culture, data governance and human rights. It should be read in the context of the 2014 discussions that produced it.
Four principles in the discussion
- Personal data carries human meaning. It may disclose elements of an individual’s private life and cultural values, so its manipulation and misuse raise democratic concerns.
- Data can serve the public interest. Research and innovation benefit from responsible access, provided that the dignity and freedoms of individuals remain protected.
- Trust requires transparency. People need understandable information about how their data is used, secured and combined with other sources.
- Digital rights need a universal horizon. The discussion drew on the idea that technological change should be considered alongside established international principles protecting human liberty.
A continuing question
The declaration remains relevant to the resource’s broader inquiry into innovation and digital life: how can societies encourage discovery and shared progress without allowing data systems to determine the conditions of participation? Its answer begins with ethics, transparency and respect for human agency.
Explore related research through the data and algorithms theme, or browse the wider surveys resource.