[okfn-discuss] OKFN and Reset the Net

Thu Jun 5 15:28:46 UTC 2014

Hi Laura,

That is a pretty bizarre position to take and seems to show a
surprising lack of understanding of the environment in which OKF
operates. For example, suppose a journalist or civil servant wants to
use some Open Data in order to draw attention to some problem in
government. Do you think it is appropriate for the same government
to be spying on them while they do this and if they are a civil servant
perhaps dismiss them on a pretext before they can finish and publish
their research? Do you think when the public sector publishes
information that it is appropriate to keep tabs on who is using that
information and for what?

"Does not quite fit within [OKF's] remit" is alarmingly out of step
with the rest of the 'net. Have a look at the list of which other
organisations supporting this and ask yourself if it appears to be
within you understand as their remit.

Please reconsider :)

-w

On Thu, 5 Jun 2014 14:30:40 +0100
Laura James <laura.james at okfn.org> wrote:

> Hi Will,
> 
> Reset the Net is an interesting initiative around freedom from mass
> surveillance by government. We try to focus our Open Knowledge
> endorsements on projects with a clear open data / open knowledge
> element. There's lots of causes out there which we might well support
> as individuals, especially around digital rights and so forth, but as
> an organisation we feel it's best to focus our support on causes
> directly related to our work and mission, which most likely means
> that we can be confident that Open Knowledge folks would support the
> cause. My sense is that Reset the Net doesn't quite fall within this
> remit; what do others think?
> 
> Of course, Local Groups and Chapters may make their own decisions on
> such initiatives, in consultation with the appropriate local board of
> directors and community, and to ensure if they do sign that they make
> it clear what organisation or group they represent - ie the Chapter
> or the specific Local Group.
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Laura
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On 5 June 2014 12:19, William Waites <ww at eris.okfn.org> wrote:
> 
> > It's not too late, and it'd be really good to have the
> > https://www.resetthenet.org/ banner or splash page up
> > today on the okfn.org web site
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > okfn-discuss at lists.okfn.org
> > https://lists.okfn.org/mailman/listinfo/okfn-discuss
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> >
> >
> 
> 

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