The Power of Information

Anthony Barnett (London, OK): As the Conservative Party comes out for “Power to the People” Tom Steinberg of MySociety and Ed Mayo of the National Consumer Council have just published a striking new report The Power of Information. It is independent but commissioned by the Cabinet Office. Their argument is that public sector information underpins a growing part of the economy and the amount of it “is increasing at a dramatic pace. The driver is the emergence of online tools that allow people to use, re-use and create information in new ways”. They claim their's is the first review to explore how government can maximise the benefits for citizens of the new pattern of information creation and  use. “In the past, only large companies, government or universities were able to  re-use and recombine information. Now, the ability to mix and ‘mash’ data is far more widely available”.  This means, they argue, that “When enough people can collect, re-use and distribute public sector information, people organise around it in new ways, creating new enterprises and new communities.”.  It’s a well referenced, 52 page overview, with plenty of recommendations – 15 to be precise. More on this area I'm sure. It engages, mashes to use the geek term, citizens and the state. Who will network best?