Many federal agencies still have a nasty habit of giving up control of valuable data and vital technology to contractors instead of sharing it openly with the public that pays for it.
Continue readingOpenGov Voices: Why local governments should prepare for the DATA Act now
The DATA Act’s passage means big changes ahead for city and county governments.
Continue readingThe flip side of anonymity: legally-identified microdata
Exploring the varied terrain of legally-identified data helps show how different datasets, even closely related datasets, may have very different levels of protection.
Continue readingFederal open data audit: Defense downright dismal, Interior immense yet imperfect
As we audit the public data catalogs of federal agencies, we found a wide variety in quantity and quality of data. Here, we look at the departments of Defense and the Interior.
Continue readingSunlight’s review of federal open data catalogs (Hint: It’s not so great)
We at Sunlight are conducting a broad audit of agencies' sometimes-faithful attempts to comply with President Obama's open data executive order. Our findings so far are good, bad and perplexing.
Continue readingAnonymization and microdata: Can we open up granular info without invading privacy?
We’re taking a closer look at a number of important questions associated with use of microdata — the individual-level data we understand to offer both enormous potential benefit and potential risk.
Continue readingExploring open data’s microdata frontier
What is "microdata" and why is it so powerful? We're exploring the challenges and opportunities of the current legal, technical and social landscape of 21st Century microdata.
Continue readingReflections from Buntwani: Strengthening civic engagement through tech
Sunlight's Amy Ngai traveled to Nairobi, Kenya for Buntwani, a two-day conference aimed at strengthening citizen engagement through the use of technology. Here's what she learned!
Continue readingGetting serious about protecting access to public email
If we do not wish to see our rights to public records entirely erode, now is the time to get serious about protecting public access to official public email.
Continue readingAll five of the largest U.S. cities now have open data policies
All five of the largest U.S. cities now have open data policies. Here's how Houston's new policy stacks up against the others.
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