4 ms·

I'm sure there are political reasons, but it is very hard for me to understand why agencies purposefully keep the data obscure. Opening data stimulates innovat

I'm sure there are political reasons, but it is very hard for me to understand why agencies purposefully keep the data obscure. Opening data stimulates innovation around that data. It benefits society by allowing analysis to provide value, and improves the economy through the sale of related products. Every time I see things like this, I cannot help but hope that if not my children's generation, at least my grandchildren's will be one that takes for granted accessible free information from public agencies. So many good things would come from old world beaurocrats relinquishing their stranglehold on data that is payed for by the people who need it the most.

venomsnake 12y ago
Covering their asses.
ejr 12y ago
"Open" is still a very new concept in government. While words like "oversight" and "transparency" have floated around parliament, there was still very little precedence previously and old, ingrained, attitudes and methodologies take a while to change. Systems and minds need quite a bit of rewiring for this to work.
resu_nimda 12y ago
>I'm sure there are political reasons, but it is very hard for me to understand why agencies purposefully keep the data obscure. It's simple, really. There is no value to that individual or agency in handing out nicely formatted data to someone who might (probably will, if they're using FOIA) try to use it against them. Very, very few people truly, through their actions, care about benefiting society. Most care only about benefiting themselves (which, I mean, is relatively understandable, in an evolutionary sense). And those individuals care so much about themselves that they often do things that they know are "wrong," or even blatantly illegal, and they obviously don't want to just open those records up to the analysts for the greater good.
incision 12y ago
>'I'm sure there are political reasons, but it is very hard for me to understand why agencies purposefully keep the data obscure.' I can understand / attest to both of the following stances by experience: Thinking idealistically, it's a basic deterrent against lazy, disingenuous, 'data out of context' arguments. By keeping that data obscure you're building in a selection process. Requiring potential detractors to put forth even the small effort of cutting, pasting and sorting will deter many before they begin. Thinking cynically, it's a basic deterrent against uncovering widespread lies and corruption. Keeping the data obscure will encourage the people who might uncover your schemes to look for easier, juicier targets. >'Opening data stimulates innovation around that data.' It's an enabler sure, but I'm not so sure about a stimulator. As best I can tell, most FOIA requests primarily serve the lawyers hired by various agencies to sue each other or the Government in the process of contract grievances. >'It benefits society by allowing analysis to provide value, and improves the economy through the sale of related products.' It certainly could, but it's easy to forget that many people working in Government are just as self-interested as anyone else. They're no more interested in the big picture than the next man. More importantly, no one below the level of perhaps a local Mayor and his/her lieutenants have their jobs tied to economic performance or general well-being of their constituents.
M2Ys4U 12y ago
The old adage "Knowledge is power" would appear to be relevant.

venomsnake 12y ago

Covering their asses.

ejr 12y ago

"Open" is still a very new concept in government. While words like "oversight" and "transparency" have floated around parliament, there was still very little precedence previously and old, ingrained, attitudes and methodologies take a while to change. Systems and minds need quite a bit of rewiring for this to work.

resu_nimda 12y ago

>I'm sure there are political reasons, but it is very hard for me to understand why agencies purposefully keep the data obscure. It's simple, really. There is no value to that individual or agency in handing out nicely formatted data to someone who might (probably will, if they're using FOIA) try to use it against them. Very, very few people truly, through their actions, care about benefiting society. Most care only about benefiting themselves (which, I mean, is relatively understandable, in an evolutionary sense). And those individuals care so much about themselves that they often do things that they know are "wrong," or even blatantly illegal, and they obviously don't want to just open those records up to the analysts for the greater good.

incision 12y ago

>'I'm sure there are political reasons, but it is very hard for me to understand why agencies purposefully keep the data obscure.' I can understand / attest to both of the following stances by experience: Thinking idealistically, it's a basic deterrent against lazy, disingenuous, 'data out of context' arguments. By keeping that data obscure you're building in a selection process. Requiring potential detractors to put forth even the small effort of cutting, pasting and sorting will deter many before they begin. Thinking cynically, it's a basic deterrent against uncovering widespread lies and corruption. Keeping the data obscure will encourage the people who might uncover your schemes to look for easier, juicier targets. >'Opening data stimulates innovation around that data.' It's an enabler sure, but I'm not so sure about a stimulator. As best I can tell, most FOIA requests primarily serve the lawyers hired by various agencies to sue each other or the Government in the process of contract grievances. >'It benefits society by allowing analysis to provide value, and improves the economy through the sale of related products.' It certainly could, but it's easy to forget that many people working in Government are just as self-interested as anyone else. They're no more interested in the big picture than the next man. More importantly, no one below the level of perhaps a local Mayor and his/her lieutenants have their jobs tied to economic performance or general well-being of their constituents.

M2Ys4U 12y ago

The old adage "Knowledge is power" would appear to be relevant.