APFSA Data Sharing Policy
1. Purpose
This policy establishes the principles and requirements governing how the Animal Protection Forum South Africa (APFSA) shares and attributes information. The objective is to maximise the dissemination of information that advances animal welfare while ensuring proper acknowledgement of sources and maintaining integrity in all shared content.
2. Core Principle
APFSA adopts an open information-sharing stance. Information that contributes to the protection, welfare, and ethical treatment of animals must be shared freely and proactively. Information must not be restricted, withheld, or controlled for institutional, financial, reputational, or competitive advantage.
3. Scope
This policy applies to all APFSA members, partners, contributors, and any individuals or entities publishing, distributing, or referencing information under the APFSA name or through its platforms.
4. Guiding Principles
4.1 Animal Welfare Priority
All information-sharing decisions must prioritise the welfare and protection of animals above organisational interests, funding considerations, or external affiliations.
4.2 Open Access Orientation
APFSA supports unrestricted sharing of non-sensitive information that contributes to awareness, prevention of harm, enforcement support, education, and advocacy.
4.3 Source Attribution Requirement
All shared information must include clear and explicit acknowledgement of the original source. Attribution must, at minimum, include:
- Original author, organisation, or contributor name
- Title or description of the information
- Date of publication (if available)
- Reference link or origin point (where applicable)
4.4 Knowledge Credit Integrity
APFSA does not claim ownership of information originating from third parties. All intellectual and informational contributions must be credited accurately and without dilution or omission.
4.5 Transparency in Adaptation
Where information is summarised, interpreted, or adapted, this must be clearly indicated. The distinction between original content and derived content must be explicit.
4.6 Non-Commercial Positioning
Information must not be shared or withheld to generate financial gain or to advantage any specific organisation. APFSA maintains a neutral position that rejects the commodification of animal welfare information.
5. Permitted Use and Redistribution
5.1 Information shared by APFSA may be freely reused, redistributed, and republished, provided that:
- Full and accurate attribution is maintained
- No misrepresentation of the original content occurs
- The context of the information is preserved
5.2 APFSA encourages third parties to further disseminate information in support of animal welfare, subject to adherence to these attribution and integrity requirements.
6. Restrictions
6.1 Information must not be altered in a manner that:
- Changes its meaning or intent
- Removes or obscures original attribution
- Misleads or misinforms recipients
6.2 Sensitive information (e.g., personal data, ongoing investigations, or information that may endanger animals or individuals if disclosed) must be handled in accordance with applicable legal and ethical standards and may be restricted where necessary.
7. Compliance and Accountability
7.1 All contributors and users of APFSA platforms are responsible for ensuring compliance with this policy.
7.2 Non-compliance, including failure to attribute sources or misuse of shared information, may result in removal of content, revocation of access, or other corrective actions as deemed appropriate.
8. Review and Updates
This policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure alignment with evolving legal standards, ethical considerations, and the operational needs of APFSA.
Position Statement
APFSA affirms that information relevant to animal welfare is a shared societal resource. The organisation explicitly rejects ownership-based control of such information and instead promotes a culture of open, transparent, and properly attributed knowledge sharing for the collective benefit of animals and society.