HomeLegal DirectoryCARE Principles (Indigenous Data)

In effect Moderate protection

CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance (GIDA)

Global Indigenous Data Alliance · Carroll et al., Data Science Journal 19:43 (2020); GIDA (2019)

Indigenous-authored complement to the FAIR data principles. Establishes that Indigenous data must be governed under Indigenous authority, used for Collective benefit, and handled with Responsibility and Ethics. Widely referenced in U.S. tribal research codes and increasingly in federal agency guidance.

Technical detail

Carroll, S.R. et al., 'The CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance,' Data Science Journal 19:43 (2020); published by GIDA September 2019; 'CARE Directs Us Home' community standards update 2024. CARE = Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics. Adopted/referenced by tribal research codes (Tohono O'odham, Navajo NNHRRB), NIH/NSF guidance, and major research-data repositories.

Who is protected: Indigenous peoples and communities whose data is collected, stored, or used by researchers, federal agencies, and AI developers

Who must comply: Researchers, data stewards, and AI developers using Indigenous data (voluntary framework)

Key facts

JurisdictionGlobal Indigenous Data Alliance
LevelState
StatusIn effect
Protection strengthModerate protection
Effective date2019-09-01
Enacted2019-09-01
CitationCarroll et al., Data Science Journal 19:43 (2020); GIDA (2019)
Enforced byGIDA (stewardship); tribal IRBs and adopting institutions enforce in practice
Private right of actionNo — agency enforcement only
Topicsconsumer data privacy · AI disclosure and transparency · automated decision-making
Last verified2026-06-16
Official sourceCARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance — Global Indigenous Data Alliance ↗

Related consumer data privacy rules elsewhere

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