Inside the Open Data white paper: what does it all mean?
The Guardian reviews a recent white paper on open data in the UK:
Does anyone disagree with more open data? It’s a huge part of the coalition government’s transparency strategy, championed by Francis Maude in the Cabinet Office and key to the government’s self-image.
And – following on from a less-than enthusiastic NAO report on its achievements in April – today’s Open Data White Paper is the government’s chance to seize the inititative.
Launching the paper, Maude said:
Today we’re at a pivotal moment – where we consider the rules and ways of working in a data‑rich world and how we can use this resource effectively, creatively and responsibly. This White Paper sets out clearly how the UK will continue to unlock and seize the benefits of data sharing in the future in a responsible way
And this one comes with a spreadsheet too – a list of each department’s commitments.
So, what does it actually include? White Papers are traditionally full of official, yet positive-sounding waffle, but what about specific announcements? We’ve extracted the key commitments below.
Just in case you are interested in open data from the UK or open data more generally.
it is amusing that the Guardian touts privacy concerns while at the same time bemoaning that access to “The Postcode Address File (PAF®) is a database that lists all known UK Postcodes and addresses.” remains in doubt.
I would rather a little less privacy and a little less junk mail if you please.