In a Fall 2008 article in the Yale Journal of Law and Technology, entitled, "Government Data and the Invisible Hand",( 11 Yale J.L. & Tech. 160 (2009), the authors recommended that,"In order for public data to benefit from the same innovation and dynamism that characterize private parties’ use of the Internet, the federal government must reimagine its role as an information provider. Rather than struggling, as it currently does, to design sites that meet each end-user need, it should focus on creating a simple, reliable and publicly accessible infrastructure that “exposes” the underlying data." It appears that an initiative from the Obama administration may actually be fulfilling this recommendation.
In late May this year, the Obama administration launched a new website called "Data.gov" (www.data.gov) which will provide any public user with access to government information and statistical databases which can be used to create new web applications that help individuals, communities, and businesses. The site will include data generated across all federal agencies. It will be accessible in two forms: the "raw" data catalog and using tools. The "Raw" Data Catalog provides an instant download of machine readable,platform-independent datasets while the Tools Catalog provides hyperlinks to tools that allow you to mine datasets.
The website currently has searchable catalogs, with access to 261 ‘‘raw’’ datasets and 30 information tools.The catalog of tools links to sites that include data mining and extraction tools. Datasets and tools are searchable by category, agency, keyword, and/or data format. Check the site frequently as the government intends to place much more information on the site over time.
There is a concern from the wording of a part of the " Data Policy" with which users must agree:
"This Data Policy is intended only to improve the internal management of information controlled by the Executive Branch of the Federal Government and it is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit," [ against the US government ]. This is probably mostly legalese that is required to be there. But it also means the the continuation of any part or all of this service, is at the discretion of the executive branch. There is no legislation that guarantees it's continuing presence.
In late May this year, the Obama administration launched a new website called "Data.gov" (www.data.gov) which will provide any public user with access to government information and statistical databases which can be used to create new web applications that help individuals, communities, and businesses. The site will include data generated across all federal agencies. It will be accessible in two forms: the "raw" data catalog and using tools. The "Raw" Data Catalog provides an instant download of machine readable,platform-independent datasets while the Tools Catalog provides hyperlinks to tools that allow you to mine datasets.
The website currently has searchable catalogs, with access to 261 ‘‘raw’’ datasets and 30 information tools.The catalog of tools links to sites that include data mining and extraction tools. Datasets and tools are searchable by category, agency, keyword, and/or data format. Check the site frequently as the government intends to place much more information on the site over time.
There is a concern from the wording of a part of the " Data Policy" with which users must agree:
"This Data Policy is intended only to improve the internal management of information controlled by the Executive Branch of the Federal Government and it is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit," [ against the US government ]. This is probably mostly legalese that is required to be there. But it also means the the continuation of any part or all of this service, is at the discretion of the executive branch. There is no legislation that guarantees it's continuing presence.
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