Bias types and patterns: a typology applied to Europeana use cases

The DE-BIAS project examines how bias manifests in cultural metadata and provides cultural heritage professionals with tools to identify and address problematic terminology and descriptions. This Typology summarises key findings and presents a practical framework for understanding and addressing bias in digital cultural heritage collections.
As cultural heritage institutions increasingly digitise their collections for broader audiences, the need to carefully examine and contextualise potentially harmful language in metadata becomes more urgent. Rather than advocating for removal of problematic terms, DE-BIAS promotes adding contextual layers that acknowledge historical perspectives while ensuring a respectful representation of communities.
Through analysis of Europeana collections and collaboration with community groups, the project has developed a systematic approach to identifying bias across multiple dimensions. This approach recognizes that bias often occurs at intersections of different categories (such as gender, ethnicity, and religion) and requires nuanced understanding of both historical contexts and contemporary sensitivities.

Core Takeaways
-Understanding bias location
-Linguistic level (terminology, descriptions)
-Visual level (representation, framing)
-Relationship between linguistic and visual elements
-Recognizing complexity
-Intersectionality of different bias types
-Historical context and temporal layers
-Community perspectives and impact
-Moving forward
-Community collaboration is essential
-Bias detection tools need human oversight
-Continuous evolution of practices required

This Typology serves as a practical guide for cultural heritage professionals seeking to make their digital collections more inclusive and respectfully representative of diverse communities. The document provides frameworks, examples, and actionable recommendations that institutions can adapt to their specific contexts and needs.