"A more connected, data-driven humanitarian system creates an opportunity to save lives and reduce suffering, even as it raises concerns for privacy and security. On one hand, in a humanitarian crisis, in which any delay can cost lives, privacy concerns and consent may be justifiably ignored in the ... service of the greater good. At the same time, humanitarian principles demand greater moral accountability and consideration of potential harm. Humanitarians also need to address concerns that technologies are being tested without public debate or ability to opt-out. The bulk of international assistance goes to long-term, complex crises and conflicts,45 often in areas with weak governance and little regard for human rights, and in which sophisticated surveillance by governments and cyber-warfare by armed groups is increasingly the norm. By modelling best practices in the principled use of information and respect for privacy, humanitarian organizations can set a positive example and allay concerns about their neutrality." (Conclusion, page 18) more

"Twitter is the primary social media platform discussed in this Think Brief. However, the use of hashtags has spread to other social media platforms, including Sina Weibo, Facebook, Google+ and Diaspora. As a result, the ideas behind hashtag standardization may have a much larger sphere of influence ... than just this one platform. Three hashtag standards are encouraged and discussed: early standardization of the disaster name (e.g., #Fay), how to report non-emergency needs (e.g., #PublicRep) and requesting emergency assistance (e.g., #911US). As well as standardizing hashtags, emergency response agencies should encourage the public to enable Global Positioning System (GPS) when tweeting during an emergency. This will provide highly detailed information to facilitate response." (Page 2) more