Version 1.0 – May 2025
At 84watchdog we believe that responsible data collection and computation can illuminate truth, drive better decisions, and accelerate positive change—but only when it is coupled with transparency, proportionality, and respect for individual rights. This document sets out the principles that guide every project, partnership, and line of code we author.
This Manifest applies to all team members, contractors, and partners who handle data under the 84watchdog umbrella, across every geography and legal regime in which we operate.
Principle | Why it Matters | Our Commitment |
---|---|---|
Legitimacy | Data must serve a clearly defined, lawful purpose. | Every collection activity is mapped to a documented use‑case and legal basis. |
Minimalism | Collect only what is necessary to fulfil that purpose. | We design ingestion pipelines that default to exclusion, not inclusion. |
Accountability | People, not abstractions, are responsible. | Named project leads sign off on risk assessments and post‑mortem reviews. |
Transparency | Trust thrives on visibility. | We maintain auditable logs and publish plain‑language summaries of our processing activities. |
We leverage industry-grade, security-hardened platforms that meet or exceed ISO 27001, ISO 42001 requirements. Tool selection is reviewed quarterly by our Technology Governance Board against the following checklist:
We do not employ shadow‑IT, freeware lacking security attestation, or closed black‑box models whose risk cannot be quantified.
All personnel agree to the following behavioural charter:
Breaches trigger a graded response: from mandatory retraining to contract termination and regulatory notification.
Access to datasets and compute resources is granted solely on the basis of operational necessity:
Before onboarding a project, the responsible lead must file a Self‑Declaration of Data Ethics Compliance covering:
Declarations are stored in our compliance repository and are auditable by regulators and clients upon request.
We practice Data Sunset by Design. Upon project completion or contract termination:
Residual data retention beyond this window requires executive approval and documented legal justification.
This Manifest is reviewed every six months
Data is the oxygen of the digital age, but too much oxygen can also start a fire. By committing to these tenets we intend not only to use data but to steward it—balancing curiosity with caution, ambition with restraint. If our practices ever drift from these words, we invite every employee, client, and citizen to hold us accountable.
What truth will your data tell tomorrow—and who will speak for those it describes?