Back in January the United Kingdom announced plans to create a Public Data Corporation. According to the project’s website, “the Government confirmed it was looking to ‘open up opportunities for innovative developers, businesses and members of the public to generate social and economic growth through the use of data.’ The new concept… will be a global first and will help make government-held data much easier to access and use.”

Leading data technologists in the UK have voiced concern regarding the project since its January announcement, and the UK government admits that, “Work on this idea is at a very early stage.” The project’s homepage continues, “While we know that we want to introduce a more consistent set of principles around data collection, maintenance, production and charging for users, we need to have a better understanding of what the current – and future – demand is for key government datasets is.”

Taking a democratic approach to their project, the UK government is asking for the help of its data community:  “If you, or the organisation for which you work, uses this type of information – or think you might want to in the future – then we’d like to hear from you. Having a better evidence-base for the wider demand for data will help us shape our thoughts on how a Public Data Corporation might work in practice.” Check out the website for more info on the project or to provide your input.

Image: Courtesy Flickr/ micora

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