The Power of Information: An Independent Review
Back in 2007, Tom Steinberg and Ed Mayo published a report on the Power of Information proposing the better use and development of state and citizen-generated information in the UK. They state that their paper is an unusual review, in that it focuses on opportunities rather than problems. “When enough people can collect, re-use and distribute public sector information, people organize around it in new ways, creating new enterprises and new communities. In each case, these are designed to offer new ways of solving old problems.”
The pair came up with 15 recommendations based on a literature review, three in-depth case studies and interviews with 60 decision makers, website operators and users inside and out of government. They argue the government could grasp opportunities that exist in the creation, consumption and re-use of information, but current policy and action is not yet adequate to seize these opportunities. The report recommends a strategy in which government:
- Welcomes and engages with users and operators of user-generated sites in pursuit of common social and economic objectives;
- Supplies innovators that are re-using government-held information with the information they need, when they need it;
- Protects the public interest by preparing citizens for a world of plentiful information, and helps excluded groups take advantage.
Check out the full report and list of the recommendations - The Power of Information: An Independent Review
