G8 Open Data Charter Highlights Open Data as Crucial for Governance and Growth | Open Knowledge Foundation Blog

"Today’s release of an Open Data Charter by the G8 is testimony to the growing importance of open data worldwide. The Charter recognizes the central role open data can play in improving government and governance and in stimulating growth through innovation in data-driven products and services. It endorses the principle of “open by default” — also supported in President Obama’s recent Executive Order on open data — and makes clear that open data must be open to all and usable by both machines and humans (as per the Open Definition).  As, Rufus Pollock, Founder of the Open Knowledge Foundation said: 'We are delighted to see such high-level endorsement of the key principles of open data and transparency which the Open Knowledge Foundation, together with many others, have been campaigning for over a period of many years. At the same time, there is still much for the G8, and other countries, to do.' The early results from Open Data Census reported last week show that, even for a small number of core datasets, G8 countries in many cases have a long way to go in opening up essential data. It is therefore good to see that the Charter recognizes a list of 'high value datasets' which should be prioritized for release, though it is disappointing that there are no explicit commitments to release the types of data mentioned (and as the Census results showed there is much to be done in this area). Moreover, as the Charter acknowledges with its 2nd principle on quality and quantity, it’s not just about open data but about quality data — the value of open data will be much diminished if the data turns out to be missing crucial information. In this area much of the devil is in the detail and it will take some detailed follow-up work to make sure this principle turns into practice. As a concrete example of the quality point, in our work with open data on government finances in the OpenSpending project we’ve often been hampered by the lack of crucial identifiers (for example, for companies or departments), or by data that does not have the granularity to enable it to be used to answer key questions (such as how much was spent on project X), or by simple inaccuracy and unreliability. Martin Tisne of the Omidyar Network said: 'We need to benchmark what excellence means in open data and set a standard so that government reformers are empowered and civil society can engage and monitor. The Open Data Charter does this and offers its principles for consideration to other countries and initiatives. Open data is the most popular commitment out of hundreds put forward by close to 60 countries part of the Open Government Partnership. The Charter will be a great tool for these countries to develop ambitious and meaningful open data initiatives.' Finally, Governments will have to think hard about how to turn transparency into accountability. This may involve both developing skills and innovations, as mentioned in the Charter, but also thought about the kinds of incentives, and changes in governance, that will make transparency actionable.  The Open Data Charter consists of a main section with 5 principles and a technical annexe which is described a 'living set of guidelines' that flesh out best practices around the 5 principles. The principles are: [1] Open Data by Default [2] Quality and Quantity [3] Useable by All [4] Releasing Data for Improved Governance [5] Releasing Data for Innovation ..."