Experts call on government to extend open data policy

The government needs to overcome its "data hugging tendencies" and keep pace with the expectations of a new web-savvy generation, according to industry experts speaking at the Profiting from the New Web conference on Monday.

Andrew Stott, a member of the UK Transparency Board, explained that the government often decides not to release public data, using the excuse that it is not accurate or is too time consuming a process.

"Sometimes government just has an instinctive feeling not to free up data, and then tries to rationalise it," he said.

Stott added that the government should look instead at the opportunities created by releasing more data. For example, the public will spot inaccuracies in the information which could lead to better data quality.

Stott advised government departments to use consistent formats and coding when collecting the data, and to structure it during its collection to make it easier to release online.

"It's important to bring out these difficulties as it brings out a force for change. Data hugging is getting increasingly complex as people see other bodies releasing data and some of the advantages it brings," he said.

"Some of this [open data initiative] is threatening for those in the government who focus on things like making applications for smartphones. What we need to do is make sure the civil servant and the government gets credit for making the application that allows the data to be transferred online."

Stott highlighted the Police.uk initiative which displayed information on local crime hotspots and encouraged public engagement with police forces.

Nigel Shadbolt, deputy head of research at the School of Computer Science at the University of Southampton, suggested that the process of putting more data online fills many government members with dread.

"There is a presumption that publishing data puts you at your peril, and that someone will have your job for it, and that you will always be held accountable," he said.

Shadholt advised those in the government to study the assets and use-cases that open data can offer.

"In many situations the sky will not fall down, and what you imagine to be a unique opportunity is actually not that unique," he said.