Print
Send to friend
RSS feedsThe Guardian newspaper is demanding that public sector information should be made freely available to British citizens. The Free our data campaign argues that the current restrictions on government funded information restrict innovation, the number of services, and the variety of information services available.
"This is an important subject, data is becoming more valuable all the time," said Charles Arthur, Technology Guardian Editor. Taxation funding is used to pay for information gathering bodies such as the Ordnance Survey and Environment Agency, but is not then freely available to citizens to re-use themselves. Companies and citizens that want to use this information have to pay for it, effectively paying twice. In his latest article for the national newspaper, Arthur calls for these data collection agencies to remain publicly funded, but to provide their data for free.
"The value of this data is far greater than can be realised by government organisation," he told IWR. "These organisations are so bureaucratic and they often compete with the private sector."
Technology Guardian kicked off its campaign last week with an article headlined Give us back our crown jewels and has since gained momentum with follow up articles, campaign website and blog. "Now seemed to be the time to launch the campaign; especially with Andrew Gowers, former Financial Times editor, reviewing copyright law," Arthur said ( full story here ).
Last summer the Cabinet Office formed the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) to administer the European Directive on Public Sector Information. Carol Tullo, OPSI director told IWR that her department's role was to ensure that government information can be re-used by businesses and organisations. As a result it administers the Information Fair Trade Scheme, a register of information assets available for re-use. Charles Arthur at The Guardian said he has received no response from the OPSI yet.
All Business & Market
del.icio.us
Digg this
reddit!
