These days democratic openness means more than citizens can vote at regular intervals in free and fair elections. They also expect to have access to government data, now citizens and NGOs are pressing to get access to public data at the national, state and municipal level. ¨Government information is a form of infrastructure, no less important than roads or water system¨, says Carl Malamud ( winner of the Berkman award from Harvard ¨for his extraordinary contributions to the internet impact`s on society¨) boss and founder of Public.Resource.org , a NGO that put government data online.
America is in the lead on data access. ¨Providing access to data creates a culture of accountability¨, says Vivek Kundra, US government CIO ( Chief Information Office ).
Now that citizens` groups and companies have the raw data, they can use them to improve city services in ways that cash-strapped local government can not. Other parts of the world are also beginning to move to greater openness. Europe`s digital activists use the web to track politicians and to try to improve public services. In Britain, Fixmystreet.com gives citizens the opportunity to flag up local problems. That allow local authorities to find out people`s concern and once the problem has been publicly aired it becomes difficult to ignore. The point of open information is not merely to expose the world but to change it. In recent years moves towards more transparency in government have become one of the most promising areas of public policy. But transparency alone is not enough. There has to be a community to champion the information. Providers need an incentive to supply the data as well as penalties for withholding them and web developers have to find ways that the public data are used effectively.
Cash-strapped - very short of money
Aired - exposed to fresh air
To champion - strongly support the cause
Withhold - refuse to give something wanted by other person
