Ethical perspectives on GPS tracking for people with dementia: insights from an online citizens’ jury

The growing number of older adults with dementia is increasingly being met with technological interventions. Among them are GPS-tracking devices that assist people with dementia (PwD) with orientation. The extent to which this technology should be utilized, and how to balance safety, mobility, and privacy has been the subject of extensive scholarly debate. To evaluate the range of normative attitudes of lay people towards the issue, we conducted an online citizens’ jury (CJ) with 17 German citizens aged 18 to 67. To examine the relationship between individual perspectives and collective attitudes, we further conducted qualitative interviews with participants. As part of the CJ process, participants collaboratively authored a comprehensive policy proposal containing nuanced views on ethical and technical aspects. Despite differing perspectives, particularly on the meaning of autonomy, participants reached broad consensus on issues such as informed consent, data protection, and device customization, and were able to agree to disagree on more contentious points. Our analysis demonstrates the capacity of lay participants to engage in ethical reflection, achieve consensus, and navigate disagreement. We further reflect on methodological considerations and examine the contribution lay deliberation can provide to contemporary bioethical debates. The online CJ format enabled in-depth, structured deliberation among diverse lay participants on a complex bioethical topic. The use of video conferencing software allowed for wide geographic participation. Combining the CJ with qualitative interviews and field notes provided rich insight into both collective and individual normative attitudes.