<h2><b>Calling for “Backup” – Indemnification for Digital Volunteers</b></h2><p>Commons Lab Blog, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, November 7, 2012<br></p>
                                                <small><strong></strong></small>

                                                
                                                        <p><em>(Editor’s note: This guest blog is by Edward S. Robson, Esq.)</em></p>
<p>In the past I have written about the tort liability that digital 
volunteers face when making responses.  In addition to a number of other
 strategies, one method for reducing liability is to obtain 
indemnification from the governmental agency or NGO requesting the 
services of the digital volunteers.</p>
<p>First, a few words about indemnification: This means to require a 
requestor to pay any expenses or awards associated with the claims 
brought against digital volunteers as a result of their work for the 
requesting party.  If a member of a digital volunteer group negligently 
released information causing a disaster victim to be injured, the 
requesting agency would be contractually required to pay attorney’s fees
 incurred in defense, or any awards.  An indemnification agreement would
 not necessarily cover all conduct of digital volunteers, including acts
 of gross negligence or recklessness.</p>
<p>To obtain indemnification, groups need an agreement with the party 
requesting service.  The agreement need not be actively negotiated but 
could be contained in an online activation request.  The acceptance of 
terms and conditions, including acceptance of indemnification, would be a
 prerequisite for submission of an activation request. <a href="http://wilsoncommonslab.org/2012/11/07/calling-for-backup-indemnification-for-digital-volunteers/#more-631" target="_blank">[MORE]</a><br></p><ul><li><b>TO READ MORE OF THIS ARTICLE</b>, visit: <a href="http://wilsoncommonslab.org/2012/11/07/calling-for-backup-indemnification-for-digital-volunteers/#more-631" target="_blank">http://wilsoncommonslab.org/2012/11/07/calling-for-backup-indemnification-for-digital-volunteers/#more-631</a></li>
</ul><ul><li><b>TO READ <i>RESPONDING TO LIABILITY: EVALUATING AND REDUCING TORT LIABILITY FOR DIGITAL VOLUNTEERS</i></b>
 operating in the United States, by Ed Robson, on behalf of the Wilson 
Center's Commons Lab with the support of CrisisCommons, visit: <a href="http://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/commons-lab-releases-report-liability-for-digital-volunteers-disasters" target="_blank">http://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/commons-lab-releases-report-liability-for-digital-volunteers-disasters</a></li>
</ul><ul><li>T<b>O WATCH A VIDEO with Ed Robson on Crisis Mapping LEGAL AND POLICY ISSUES</b>, such as liability and privacy, visit:  <a href="http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/webcast-day-2-connecting-grassroots-to-government-for-disaster-management-policy-roundtable" target="_blank">http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/webcast-day-2-connecting-grassroots-to-government-for-disaster-management-policy-roundtable</a></li>
</ul>