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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Hi, Regis<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Thanks for your reply.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">I see in two steps: 1) Address this explicitly in the plugin development guidelines (<a href="https://docs.qgis.org/3.44/en/docs/pyqgis_developer_cookbook/plugins/index.html">https://docs.qgis.org/3.44/en/docs/pyqgis_developer_cookbook/plugins/index.html</a>);<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">and 2) at the approval stage, the developer should add , e.g., in the metadata, what services are used and how – if any – data is collected.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">An explicit user consent should be added when data is collected. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">My two cents<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Rosa<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;padding:0cm"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Dr. Rosa Aguilar | Assistant Professor | University of Twente | Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation|
<br>
Campus University of Twente, Building Langezijds, room 1322, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands |<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">T: +31 (0)53 487 4567 |
<a href="mailto:r.aguilar@utwente.nl"><span style="color:#0563C1">r.aguilar@utwente.nl</span></a> |
</span><span lang="NL" style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="https://www.itc.nl/"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:#0563C1">https://www.itc.nl/</span></a></span><span lang="NL" style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">|
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Connect with me on
</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosamaguilar/?locale=en_US"><span style="color:#0563C1">LinkedIn</span></a>
<a href="https://rosaguilar.github.io/"><span style="color:#0563C1">https://rosaguilar.github.io</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">|</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">The essential is invisible to the eye. Saint-Exupéry</span></i><i><span lang="NL" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="NL" style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="NL"><img border="0" width="175" height="52" style="width:1.825in;height:.5416in" id="Picture_x0020_1900817061" src="cid:image001.jpg@01DCFEFD.7E1EF010" alt="https://www.itc.nl/.uc/fa375379b01021d625f0083ea0d0312ee46ec8ddd8df800/UT%20ITC%20logo%20RGB.jpg"></span><span lang="NL" style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> QGIS-PSC <qgis-psc-bounces@lists.osgeo.org>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Régis Haubourg via QGIS-PSC<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, 17 June 2026 16:08<br>
<b>To:</b> qgis-psc@lists.osgeo.org<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Qgis-psc] Call for transparency - Generative AI plugins<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p>Hi Rosa, thanks a lot for raising this issue. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p>I agree that such plugins can be an issue with data privacy and probably security. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p>I had a look at how Mozilla handles extensions [0] and I agree that we should aim toward more explicit consent and authorization model. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Generally speaking, I think we should embrass privacy statements for our plugin repository. All data collection should be opt-in, so <span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">qgis-geo-knowledge-ai would then be not conformed with
its default permissions. <br>
Ideally a permission system should block a plugin sending data without explicit permissions. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Any other thoughts? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p>[0] <a href="https://extensionworkshop.com/documentation/publish/add-on-policies/#data-collection-and-transmission-disclosure-and-control">
https://extensionworkshop.com/documentation/publish/add-on-policies/#data-collection-and-transmission-disclosure-and-control</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<pre>Best regards,<o:p></o:p></pre>
<pre><o:p> </o:p></pre>
<pre>Régis Haubourg<o:p></o:p></pre>
<pre>Elected member at the Program Steering Comitee of QGIS.org.<o:p></o:p></pre>
<pre>-<o:p></o:p></pre>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On 17/06/2026 09:08, Aguilar Bolivar, Rosa (UT-ITC) via QGIS-PSC wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Dear PSC,
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">First, I would like to express my appreciation for the continuous efforts invested in maintaining QGIS as a reliable and high-quality platform.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">I would like to draw your attention to the growing presence of AI-related plugins within the QGIS ecosystem.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">In my view, it is essential to ensure transparency for end users regarding which large language models (LLMs) are being utilized, as well
as how user data may be processed, transmitted, or stored.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">As a specific example, I recently reviewed the Geo Knowledge AI plugin (<a href="https://github.com/robert6757/qgis-geo-knowledge-ai">https://github.com/robert6757/qgis-geo-knowledge-ai</a>)
and observed that no API key is required for its operation. Upon further inspection of the code, it appears that requests are routed to a remote server (as indicated in:
<a href="https://github.com/robert6757/qgis-geo-knowledge-ai/blob/main/global_defs.py">
https://github.com/robert6757/qgis-geo-knowledge-ai/blob/main/global_defs.py</a>).</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">While I am not certain of the best mechanism to address this, one potential approach could be the introduction of a developer declaration
or compliance option (e.g., a checkbox or metadata field). This could require plugin developers to explicitly disclose key aspects such as the underlying AI model in use and the nature of any data collection, transmission, or processing. Such measures would
enhance transparency and support users in making informed decisions.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Best regards,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Rosa</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Dr. Rosa Aguilar | Assistant Professor | University of Twente
| Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation| <br>
Campus University of Twente, Building Langezijds, room 1322, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands |</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">T: +31 (0)53 487 4567 |
<a href="mailto:r.aguilar@utwente.nl"><span style="color:#0563C1">r.aguilar@utwente.nl</span></a> |
</span><span lang="NL" style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="https://www.itc.nl/"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:#0563C1">https://www.itc.nl/</span></a>
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">|
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Connect with me on
</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosamaguilar/?locale=en_US"><span style="color:#0563C1">LinkedIn</span></a>
<a href="https://rosaguilar.github.io/"><span style="color:#0563C1">https://rosaguilar.github.io</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:gray;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">|</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">The essential is invisible to the eye. Saint-Exupéry</span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="NL" style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span lang="NL"><img border="0" width="175" height="52" style="width:1.825in;height:.5416in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01DCFEFD.7E1EF010" alt="https://www.itc.nl/.uc/fa375379b01021d625f0083ea0d0312ee46ec8ddd8df800/UT%20ITC%20logo%20RGB.jpg"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<pre>_______________________________________________<o:p></o:p></pre>
<pre>QGIS-PSC mailing list<o:p></o:p></pre>
<pre><a href="mailto:QGIS-PSC@lists.osgeo.org">QGIS-PSC@lists.osgeo.org</a><o:p></o:p></pre>
<pre><a href="https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-psc">https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-psc</a><o:p></o:p></pre>
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