As digital services become more integrated into public life, trust in government technology is even more critical. The City of Los Angeles has always relied on technology to provide essential public services. In fact, the City has been widely recognized for technology innovation, earning multiple #1 U.S. Digital City Awards and Smart City accolades. However, as digital transformation in government accelerates, ethical concerns around privacy, security, bias, and transparency understandably continue to grow. The residents of Los Angeles need government digital services that are both innovative and ethical. To address these concerns, the City of Los Angeles has introduced this Digital Code of Ethics, providing a comprehensive framework to guide ethical decision-making in technology deployments across City departments.
Built on five core values and ten key digital principles, this framework establishes clear ethical guidelines for legacy and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (A.I.), blockchain, data analytics, digital assistants, Internet of Things sensors, and virtual reality. This Code of Ethics drives City digital services that are functional, inclusive, ethical, and compliant with evolving regulatory standards.
By adopting this Digital Code of Ethics, Los Angeles is setting a new standard for responsible digital ethics.
Download ITA's "Digital Code of Ethics"