Research: A special issue of the Journal of Community Informatics explores the promise and practice of Open Government Data (OGD), including an article by Tim G. Davies and Zainab Ashraf Bawa called “The Promises and Perils of Open Government Data (OGD).” Another article, by Katleen Janssen, is titled, Open Government Data and the Right to Information: Opportunities and Obstacles. Janssen is with the Interdisciplinary Centre for Law and ICT, KU Leuven – iMinds.
Abstract: This article discusses the relationship between the open government data (OGD) movement and the right to information (RTI) movement. While both movements are closely related, there are some differences that may have a considerable impact on the right of the citizen to access government information. The article argues that the calls for OGD may on the one hand risk limiting the access to government information, while on the other hand they may also provide an alternative source of access to information for existing freedom of information legislation, which is being threatened in some countries.
Serbia: “Building in Belgrade: A Case Study in Freedom of Information Helping Open Data,” by Ivan Branisavljevic, Ministry of Space Collective, published on the Global Integrity blog. “This post explores how our simple need for those digital documents has manifested itself into a textbook case of how the freedom of information and open data communities can work together to advance a common transparency and participation agenda.”
OGP: The OGP Support Unit has extended the deadline to submit comments on the proposed revisions to the Articles of Government, including the OGP disclosure policy until Nov. 28. They would like to receive the comments by e-mail. The proposed articles are here.
OGP: The World Resources Institute creates a web page to encourage more environmental-related commitments by members of the Open Government Partnership.
United States: Judicial Watch releases its 2013 “Transparency 101: Freedom of Information Act and Opens Records Handbook,” which provides comprehensive information about how organizations and individuals can use the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act to gain access to government documents and scrutinize the behavior of public officials. Judicial Watch is a conservative, non-partisan educational foundation that “promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law.”
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