Societal Impact Questionnaire – TAG F2F

TAG F2F, Paris, 2025-03-03

Sarven Capadisli https://csarven.ca/#i @csarven

Knowledge Graph

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Abstract

The web should be a platform that benefits people and society. As it evolves, we must consider its impact. Societal Impact Questionnaire is to help specification authors, reviewers, and implementers critically assess their work, considering broader consequences, diverse perspectives, and worst-case scenarios.

Status and Future Directions

Current status: W3C Group Draft Note
Near future status: W3C Group Note
Future of the future is the present: W3C Statement?
?

Gaps and Open Questions

What research and sources should be referenced or further explored?
Integrating current knowledge and world concerns
Overlooked issues, perspectives, and challenges?
Barriers to implementation? How to address?
Potential unintended consequences or wider effects?
?

Collaboration and Alignment

e.g., Sustainable Web IG, Web Machine Learning WG
Positive Work Environment CG
Accessibility Guidelines WG, Privacy WG, Web Platform Incubator CG
Credible Web CG, Credentials CG
Social Web CG, Solid CG, Linked Web Storage WG
Data Privacy Vocabularies and Controls CG
... (and that's only within W3C, ...)

Implementation and Adoption

Eating our own cooking!
Support: offer open Q&A, training, or workshops
Integrate the Questionnaire into TAG Explainer?
..?

Questions to consider

What kinds of activities do you anticipate your specification becoming a critical part of?: ..
What kinds of activities could your specification become a part of that you are not designing for?: ..
What risks do you see in features of your specification being misused, or used differently from how you intended?: ..
Can users of the Web Platform choose not to use features of your specification?: ..
What groups of people are excluded from using features of your specification?: ..
What effect may features of your specification have on minority groups?: ..
What are the power dynamics at play in implementations of your specification?: ..
What points of centralization does your feature bring to the web platform?: ..
To what extent do the features in your specification impact the natural environment?: ..
What is the expected lifetime of your specification feature(s)?: ..
Have you completed the Security & Privacy Self-review Questionnaire?: ..