Open Washing: A Web Foundation blog post on open washing and an inconclusive working group discussion on what to do about it. One paragraph:
We discussed the importance of enforcing legal frameworks, beyond having existing ones in place. It is about the right to data, the right to information, and ultimately, the right to know (participation and transparency). We identified users as a group of organisations working on an issue; they are developers, academics, politicians, activists, civic groups. We are the users. Let’s start here, to track our progress (or lack thereof) and evolve. Moreover, what are the incentives for governments to tackle openwashing? Is it re-election? Increased ranking in the Open Data Barometer and Global Open Data Index?
Later, the summary says:
By the end of two rounds of intensive sessions we did not arrive to any conclusions on a definition, but decided to focus on open government and open government data; openwashing in both government and non-profit sector. We realised that open is so open ended, and ultimately we ended up with more questions than answers. But that’s okay because this conversation has just started. So let’s continue it!
Brazil: A new guide to using FOI (in Portuguese).
Mexico/Commentary: “The Right to Know: Red Junco And The Roots Of Empowerment,” a FOI advocacy article in the Huffington Post focused on Mexico by Thomas Hughes, Executive Director of Article 19.
Canada: “Canada’s information commissioner is casting doubt on the Liberal government’s campaign promise to pry open and modernize the oft-criticized Access to Information Act, a tool for Canadians to search out government data and information,” the CBC reports. Separately, Stanley Tromp, FOI caucus co-ordinator of the Canadian Association of Journalists, writes critically on the British Columbian government. Also, “Access-to-Info Out of the Stone Age,” the title of a piece by Jeremy J. Nuttal.
Seychelles: Wavel Ramkalawan, leader of the opposition, notes that Seychelles President Danny Faure mentioned FOI legislation in his annual address. Ramkalawan says he expects the proposal to come to the assembly before the end of this term, according to an article by the Seychelles News Agency.
Lagos: “Lagos’ version of information law… still in the works five years after” according to an article by Gbenga Salau in The Guardian.
Philippines: “The State Of Freedom Of Information In The Philippines,” a Blogwatch post that says, “Signing an order is one thing and implementing it another.”
New Zealand: “Freedom of information in New Zealand is in deep trouble. Bureaucrats and politicians constantly flout their obligations under the Official Information Act, which holds that information is open to the public unless special circumstances apply. The assumption is that ordinary people are entitled to know what their rulers are up to,” according to an editorial in The Dominion Post.
India: “The Bombay High Court has held that the State Chief Information Commissioner has powers under the Right to Information Act (RTI) to transfer State Information Commissioner from one region to another for the purpose of ensuring that the Commission functions in a smooth manner,” according to an article by the Press Trust of India.
India: “A 10-day extensive Right to Information (RTI) awareness campaign, ‘RTI on Wheels’, will travel with a team of experts in rural and urban areas across Goa from November 5 to 15,” reports The Hindu. “The campaign, a joint initiative between Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel (MAGP), the Goa State Information Commission and the Goa RTI Forum, will be run through a multi-media bus fitted with audio-visual facilities.”
India/Commentary: “A refurbished RTI system, while balancing competing interests and pre-empting misuse, should be able to accommodate change in keeping with the credo of the times. The multi-tiered RTI system needs a criteria-based legal filter to sift out vexatious applications.” So writes Vijai Sharma, a former Chief Information Commissioner, & Secretary to GoI in Ministry of Environment & Forests.
India: “Why tech-savvy Bengaluru is filing RTI queries by post – Experts wonder why state aloof to online RTI idea,” an article in the Economic Times.
United States/OpenData: The US City Open Data Census.
Jamaica: A report on 2015 requests by a government official.
Nepal: Supreme Court Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla says most people were unaware of their right to information, reports The Himalayan.
United Kingdom: “The five West Midlands Police have released details of some of their more extraordinary Freedom of Information requests – and some of them make for puzzling reading,” according to The Birmingham Mail.
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