In the realm of software development, protecting data is no longer just about safeguarding against misuse, but about centering its ethical use to promote fairness, privacy, and trustworthiness. Ethical data stewardship is a systemic process that involves ensuring data collection, use, and sharing for public benefit while mitigating harm and addressing structural inequities. To facilitate this, various frameworks such as IEEE's Ethically Aligned Design and the Menlo Report provide guidelines for ethical decision-making, while tools like homomorphic encryption and differential privacy enhance data handling. A comprehensive approach to ethical data stewardship involves not only implementing robust anonymization protocols but also promoting an ethical culture through regular training, daily practices, and stakeholder evaluations, ultimately ensuring that software development prioritizes the well-being of users and society as a whole.