The adoption of technologies and application of data-driven practices in the real estate sector, has grown significantly over the past decade. To ensure that citizens' data are protected, the property sector has had to adhere to data protection regulations and justify the vast amounts of data that is being collected, processed, and shared. However, regulation alone is insufficient to ensure ethical practices within both private and public built environments. While attempts have been made by the real estate sector and government to establish legislative, policy, and best practices for incorporating ethical considerations as part of the urban planning process, there is currently no centralised regulation to put ethics in practice. This paper outlines the real estate sector and the data that flows through it, explores the data and data protection challenges within the sector, and suggests paths forward when it comes to data protection, management, and ethics within the built environment.

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