[open-government] 1. It's not Open Data, so stop calling it that...

Thu Jul 29 13:39:51 UTC 2010

Hey all,

Just a few quick reflections in line below...

On Wednesday 28 July 2010 09:44 PM, Jonathan Gray wrote:
> > I guess the two main bits were:
> >
> >   1. Legally open (i.e. compliant with opendefinition.org)
> >   2. Technically open (i.e. released in machine readable format, if
> applicable)
> >
> > What do people think?
>

It strikes me as important to make sure any guide focusses on making data
open in practice, as well as open in theory. I.e. looking at how to best
enable use and re-use of data in different contexts.

On 2010/7/29 Pranesh Prakash <pranesh at cis-india.org> wrote
>
I feel that while it is very important to have set standards and binding
> definitions, sometimes it may be counter-productive to argue against
> things that do not satisfy those standards and definitions.  Instead the
> argument should be to encourage governments to satisfy those standards
> and definitions.  The two things are not necessarily corollaries.
>

I'd very much agree. It's worth noting that 'access' to data, without re-use
rights or technological conditions in place for re-use is still incredibly
valuable in many democratic, individual contexts (e.g. in the research I've
recently been working on there were many cases of non-developer, non-re-use
uses of open government data being valuable: http://bit.ly/aoWIU6 - from
individuals lobbying in school appeal processes, to charities using data to
craft funding applications.)

[snip]
>
> 2. While we should encourage movement towards 'truly open' from 'not
> public' and 'somewhat open', achieving even the first step (of
> copyright-restricted, unreadable data) is a big step, and one in the
> right direction, and should not be discouraged as not being "open enough".
>
> These are evolving thoughts based on the scenario in developing
> countries with problems of digitized data, and not necessarily
> applicable to the discussion about the City of Vancouver.
>

The seem very much generally applicable. Having a graduated account of how
governments can move towards open data, with the benefits for each step of
the way outlined, would be, I think, very valuable in any guide.

Tim

-- 
http://www.timdavies.org.uk
07834 856 303.
@timdavies

Co-director of Practical Participation:
http://www.practicalparticipation.co.uk
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