PSI re-use called into question!
The Computer Sweden online service has published an article titled: Sätt press på VHS written by Fredrik Sand IT-expert at the Stockholms Handelskammare. The article calls into question the behaviour of public sector bodies that receive requests for re-use of the public sector information that they hold. The author is of the view that Sweden is falling behind in adopting the minimum approach to transposing and implementing the European Union PSI re-use Directive 2003/98/EC.
The European Public Sector Information Platform has over recent weeks received tweets questioning whether the real issues that are impeding the re-use of public sector information are really being addressed and whether the open data movement is addressing the fundamental issues that enable public sector information to be re-used. An example of most recent tweet:
“RT @jluismarin: Will #opendata end being more than a playground for developers? Companies still find big difficulties to build biz models 5:18 AM May 19th via web”
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The Computer Sweden article (rough translation) states:
“Government authorities should stand for service, not as judges taste of private initiative. The authorities must have clear directives to disclose data, do not hold back for fear of development that VHS does.
CS has written several articles on the reuse of public information and the problem of getting data from VHS to a new service. In the debate the article "VHS prioritize accessibility", 27 / 4 -10, VHS BLR response to such a service is' of little value to the applicant. " There may be objections and obstacles to be taken seriously before the Board's data disclosure. The seriousness of the VHS debate article is attitude. Administration "received ideas", "priority" and considers private initiative for new services. The attitude runs counter to the ideas of reuse of public data. It is against the spirit of the Swedish law and the EU directive is based. It is not an authority to judge the value of private initiative - it is up to the intended users of the service. It is gratifying that the government has presented a law implementing the EU rules that apply in Sweden. But the law does not automatically mean that it becomes easy to start re-using public data from Swedish authorities. There are over 200 records provisions governing access to data. They must be reviewed to increase access, particularly raw data. In addition to the government might open up more sources of data than specified in the law, who just stick to the minimum level of EU rules. It must especially be possible to obtain disclosure of the information in electronic format. Do it on paper it becomes more expensive and harder to make Internet services. In addition, the question is if it goes fast enough to appeal against authorities' decision to withhold data. Information market is developing fast course. The U.S. and UK policies are clearer. The government and the Swedish authorities must do much more for Sweden to be able to assert itself. It is obvious that there are authorities who are best placed to find new uses for the data already collected. VHS With data, it can with an energetic initiative to develop exciting services for students, there may be a better evaluation of the Swedish higher education or anything else that VHS can not or should do. It is therefore important to VHS, and other authorities, have an open and accommodating attitude to those who want to reuse their information. The development continues, but the policies and authorities have been left behind. It is time for government to step up to the intentions behind the law to become a reality. One step is to oblige the authorities to disclose information to citizens and businesses. The Chamber also believes that the principal authorities will be tasked to propose ways to facilitate the reuse of data.”
Stockholm spreads the PSI re-use opportunity message!
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