In spring 2018, for the first time the National Archives and Record Administration (NARA) has begun using the Internet to inform the American public about its ongoing investigations of unauthorized dispositions in an online dashboard. In a year that continues to be marked by regression on open government, this is a welcome development that shines a bright light on a matter of significant public concern.
Continue readingIn the wake of fraudulent comments, Regulations.gov revises API policy
After the Regulations.gov API was taken offline for almost two months, it's back, with new restrictions on user accounts and authorization. We don't know, but the EPA's response suggested that misuse was degrading the system.
Continue readingDepartment of Justice launches new FOIA.gov to kick off Sunshine Week
The new federal website for Freedom of Information Act requests mandated by Congress in 2017 is a gigantic improvement over the previous FOIA.gov, but the upgrade won't fix all that ails that nation's canonical transparency law as Sunshine Week dawns.
Continue readingFacebook’s opacity in Seattle shows why self-regulation on digital disclosure isn’t enough
The public should be able to easily see the source of campaign ads though disclaimers and online disclosures, no matter where we live or what network, platform or device we view them on, so that we can understand who is seeking to influence our elections. Transparency is a necessary but insufficient measure to detect and deter influence, whatever city or state people live in.
Continue readingIn 2018, the State of the Union is mobile and monetized
For the first time in history, the names of campaign donors will be shown over the livestream of a President of the United States as he delivers the State of the Union to Congress. This past year, the future that arrived has often been stranger than fiction.
Continue reading6 Ways to Free the Freedom of Information Act
In its first meeting of 2018, the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Advisory Committee unanimously voted to approve a series of recommendations. If implemented, they would improve transparency, accountability and efficiency in administering the nation's preeminent public records law at federal government agencies. Bonus news: a new FOIA.gov is coming soon.
Continue reading8 challenges for open government posed by emerging technology
Governments will confront fresh challenges posed by emerging technologies in 2018, making sense of how sunshine laws should adjust to novel context. Here are eight areas that the press, public and governments have asked us about in recent months, with thoughts about how lawmakers and regulators should adjust.
Continue readingA voice for American democracy, today and tomorrow
This year was unlike any other, and Sunlight's work making government transparent and accountable is more important than ever.
Continue readingTweets by @realDonaldTrump are official statements of the @POTUS, says Justice Department
Listening and responding to members of the public that is a minimum expectation for public servants in any democratic state, whether those voices are raised in protest, petition, email, send letters or reply on social media. While there are practical challenges to making sense of millions of emails, tweets, call or letters, blocks that violate the First Amendment rights of the public are not the solution to filter failure.
Continue readingLawmaking is Data-making
The Open Law Library is working with Washington, D.C. to create a platform to make capturing and using legal data cheaper and scalable, opening more of the law to the public it governs
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