Nov 22 -- Announcing November 29, 2022 Open Government Engagement Session on Increasing Federal Data Access and Utility [OSTP blog]
The federal government collects vast amounts of data through its day-to-day activities, as well as through the federal statistical system. This repository of federal data best serves the American public and American government when the data are transparent, sufficiently detailed while still protecting privacy, and accessible to the American public. . . .
We need a common base of shared information in order to align the efforts of federal, state, Tribal, local, and territorial governments; the nonprofit sector; private enterprise; community-based organizations; and academia. Increased access, transparency, and utility of government data can improve American lives, capture areas of concern, identify national issues, inform policy and legislation, and help in understanding the public’s needs.
In compliance with the Presidential Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking, agencies are working to expand open and secure access to data. All researchers should be able to use federal data to assess, evaluate, and suggest improvements for the equitable delivery of policies. To that end, agencies are publishing data plans that provide a framework for data stewardship, use, and access. These initiatives work best when federal agencies can capture voices from a wide array of members of the public, including members of historically underserved communities. These voices are critical to finding actionable solutions that provide easy access of timely and relevant information.
To fulfill the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to transparent and equitable data, we are seeking input about how data can be more transparent, useful, and accessible. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy will hold an engagement session on November 29, 2022 from 1:00 to 2:00 PM ET to get feedback from the public about proposed federal commitments to improve public access to data.
This session will inform the development of the United States’ Open Government National Action Plan: a set of public commitments the federal government is drafting with input from civil society to support a more equitable, transparent, and accountable government.
At this session, we plan to further define commitments related to the following ideas brought up by participants in previous engagement sessions:
-- Strengthening access to government information through the Freedom of Information Act.
-- Creating better feedback loops between data practitioners and federal data stewards
We are excited to hear more from you about how the federal government can increase access and utility of government data.
RSVP for the November 29, 2022 from 1:00 to 2:00 PM ET engagement session here:
https://gsa.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsc-6hrjssGAmXbjc57QgTGOfmBgPOPkk
We also invite you to share written ideas by email to opengov@ostp.eop.gov. Please note that all information provided during or after the event is considered the opinion of an individual entity and not considered part of a group or consensus recommendation. The comments and views made by the individuals during the event are not representative of the White House.
Registration:
https://open.usa.gov/meeting/november-2022-public-engagement-increasing-the-accessibility-and-utility-of-government-data/
Blog:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/news-updates/2022/11/22/announcing-november-29-2022-open-government-engagement-session-on-increasing-federal-data-access-and-utility/