Data ethics in creative industries R&D
Supporting creative practitioners in ethical digital innovation
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21191803 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Caitlin Mcdonald (0000-0002-6869-1544, Edinburgh College, corresponding author), Nicola Osborne (0000-0003-2666-6321, Edinburgh College), Brenda Schafer (0000-0002-6025-4593, University of Edinburgh), Melissa Terras (0000-0001-6496-3197, Edinburgh College) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-32 |
| Publication date | 2026-07-03 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Creative Industries Journal (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1751-0694 • E-ISSN: 1751-0708 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/17510694.2026.2689819 |
| OpenAlex | W7167270464 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 35 |
There is a growing need for comprehensive data ethics guidance tailored to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the creative industries that are creating new goods and services with digital components. Although ethical use of data is now critical, there is little prior research on how best to support responsible digital innovation within the creative economy. Utilising a case study approach focusing on the UK activities of the large-scale AHRC funded Creative Informatics innovation programme (2018–2024), we analyse over 100 ethics approval documents from funded R&D projects to identify key ethical concerns and mitigation strategies of creative practitioners innovating with data. Thematic analysis surfaces significant topics, and we provide recommendations for supporting ethical approaches to data innovation within creative domains. We highlight the importance of delivering a structured reflective process with an accountability partner in order to promote responsibility, transparency, and deeper ethical engagement among creative practitioners. Our findings highlight the importance of context-specific data ethics frameworks that go beyond compliance, advocating for practices that anticipate societal impacts and enhance the value of creative work. We conclude with tailored recommendations for policymakers, funders, and practitioners who aim to support improved data ethics in digital innovation within the creative industries
Accountability · Creative industries · Data collection · Goods and services · Informatics · Qualitative property · Responsible Research and Innovation · Thematic analysis · Value (mathematics) · Ethics and Social Impacts of AI · Mobile Crowdsensing and Crowdsourcing · Open Source Software Innovations
Technology and the Virtues
What is data ethics?
Introducing the pervert’s dilemma
Can I use TA? Should I use TA? Should I not use TA? Comparing reflexive thematic analysis and other pattern‐based qualitative analytic approaches
The Role of Tutoring in Problem Solving
Thematic Analysis/Interpretive Thematic Analysis
Creative Research
The Creative Industries
What does it mean to embed ethics in data science? An integrative approach based on microethics and virtues
“But the data is already public”
Digital inequalities in the age of artificial intelligence and big data
To Each Technology Its Own Ethics
Why we should have seen that coming
Contextualising Creative Practice Within Human Research Ethics Processes
The Work of Art in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Digital inequalities and why they matter
Where are human subjects in Big Data research? The emerging ethics divide
Demonstrating Rigor Using Thematic Analysis
| Highly cited | No |
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