[open-science] Risks in secrecy

[Heather Morrison]

There are dangers in opening up data - but let's not forget the  
dangers of secrecy.

Canada is actively muzzling its government scientists. Canada's  
Science Writers Association is keeping track of what they are up to:
http://sciencewriters.ca/initiatives/muzzling_canadian_federal_scientists/

This muzzling appears to have nothing to do with protecting Canadian  
privacy or the environment, but rather a lot more to do with  
protecting polluting companies and Canadian politicians from the  
scrutiny of democratic processes.

Another example: secrecy protects personal privacy - of the innocent  
citizen, or the corrupt politician or CEO.

best,

Heather Morrison
The Imaginary Journal of Poetic Economics
http://poeticeconomics.blogspot.com