Icom Adopts Revised Code of Ethics Addressing AI, Climate, and Colonial Legacy

During its 41st general assembly in Paris on June 25, the International Council of Museums (Icom) ratified an updated code of ethics, with 85.9% of members supporting the change. This new code, which took five years to develop, supersedes the 2004 edition and tackles pressing topics such as artificial intelligence, climate change, and colonialism. The original eight principles have been condensed into five: Society, Professionalism, Education, Collections, and Governance. Notably, the 2004 Principle VII—'Museums operate in a legal manner'—has been eliminated, but Icom's Legal Affairs Committee (LEAC) is working on new binding legal guidelines. The revision aligns with Icom's contentious 2022 museum definition, which drew criticism for excluding terms like deaccessioning and decolonization. Sally Yekovich, an adjunct professor at Columbia University who spearheaded the revision, emphasized that the new code enhances and clarifies the earlier version. Icom urges museums to consider the effects of digital technologies on intellectual property and Indigenous rights, while also recognizing their historical roles in colonization. Additionally, the code mandates that museums avoid conflicts of interest, establish public policies regarding gifts and benefits, and respond swiftly to restitution requests. Income-generating activities should not jeopardize institutional integrity, and museums must resist external financial or political pressures.