The data watchdog is calling on consumers to suggest what data public bodies should make available to them, in a precursor to what many believe will lead to brand owners being forced to follow suit.
The Information Commissioner’s Office campaign, dubbed ‘Tell Me More’, is in line with the Government’s transparency and open data agenda, which has led to the ‘midata’ initative, to give people more access to the personal data that businesses hold about them in an electronic format.
The Department for Business, Skills & Innovation (BIS) recently announced that 19 major brands, including Google, Royal Bank of Scotland, British Gas and Visa, had all signed up to enable consumers to manage their personal data via the mydata electronic data sharing initiative.
Together, the initiatives indicate a trend for transparency that could spread to the private sector, and raise questions about what information businesses might be compelled to publish in future.
Steve Wood, head of policy delivery at the ICO, said: “Tell Me More’ is an opportunity for the public to tell us what they want to know upfront about their local council or a government department.
“Of course, people can make FOI (Freedom of Information) requests for information – but publication schemes are about ensuring that the most requested information is already out there for all to see.”
Information that public authorities already publish include financial information, organisational information, major policy decisions, procurements and contracts and minutes from senior management-level meetings.
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