Comments for What Should Obama's CTO Do With Public Data? Now You Can Vote On It

What Should Obama's CTO Do With Public Data? Now You Can Vote On It

2009-02-20T18:39:47Z

Two days into the new Presidential administration, Barack Obama issued a memo calling on the still unfilled new office of Chief Technology Officer to make a list of recommendations for an Open Government Directive. The recommendations are due within 120 days of that memo, which called for "a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration." What would you like to see on the list of recommendations?

This morning the highly effective nonpartisan Sunlight Foundation launched a new microsite called Our Open Government List, where anyone can make suggestions for government transparency and all of us can vote on our favorite ideas. It's like Digg for steps to open up public data.

]]> The project includes some initial ideas from Sunlight and freshly submitted ideas from site visitors.

Anyone can submit ideas or vote on those already submitted; no account creation is required. Click on the titles and you can post and read comments on the idea.

What's in the lead so far? The number one vote getter this morning has been to create a "Digital deposit of government information to libraries." APIs and bulk data access, and metadata standards are also getting a lot of votes. Voting has just begun, though, so now is a great time to jump over to the site and have your voice be heard.

The Sunlight Foundation is a very respected organization and we're sure that the results of the voting will be seen by the Obama administration. The group is co-producing a sold-out Barcamp called TransparencyCamp in D.C. this weekend, and we hope they'll see some key Obama staffers there. So head on over to Our Open Government List and put in your two cents!

If you like ideas like this, you should check out the UK's Show Us a Better Way, a mashup contest to fund developer use of public data.

We don't know who the country's first CTO will be yet (there are rumors) but whoever it is should have plenty of great publicly generated ideas to consider as soon as he or she takes office. Given the delay in the appointment, we imagine the CTO will appreciate the Sunlight Foundation's help in meeting the 120 day deadline for transparency suggestions.

Comment from Jeff on 2009-02-20

2009-02-20T19:08:23Z

I love the idea of a National CTO but how the heck is Obama going to put out this call to action without first having someone in the seat?

So it sounds like OOGL is not affiliated with the office of the CTO, correct? So the private sector is doing the job better than the office itself?

Interesting....

Comment from Marshall Kirkpatrick on 2009-02-20

2009-02-20T19:12:51Z

You are correct sir, and yes I agree it does seem strange that the CTO post still has not been filled. Wonder what the hold up is.

Comment from Janet Altman on 2009-02-20

2009-02-20T22:21:41Z

Thanks for the article ~

Yes, first someone is going to have to be appointed to head the post. And secondly, after the decision has been made that it is a good decision and in our best interest, we are going to have to be very sure that we trust the digital security technology that is out there.

I understand that the administration is considering the post of "Digital Security Secretary".

I say yes.

Found some information about the subject on http://www.justaskgemalto.com. Would you mind writing an article expanding around this idea. What digital security would be the best solution for national data? What is currently being used?

Comment from Morgan on 2009-02-20

2009-02-20T23:05:11Z

Probably being held up so that the 'transparency' can be on hold indefinitely. The 48 hours, the 5 days, all of that has been out the window so far for public review. So the CTO is immaterial to me, but I've got a suggestion:

1) Voting on or signing a bill? Read it first. We as citizens are bound by every line of it, so Congress and The President can at least read it once.

2) Give the public the same amount of time to read the legislation.

The CTO itself should be the same one that thus far hasn't screwed up the Internet -- NO ONE. Leave it alone.

Comment from Mahmid on 2009-02-21

2009-02-21T20:10:11Z

Ah this is such a great idea. It is so nice to see a president taking care of those issues. The world is finally perfect. Seriously, Obama should start acting on serious "human" problems. There are still billions dying everyday, another 17K men in Afghanistan for America, etc. Why on earth should we care about the public data? Until I know that all the people that americans have raped and demolished are not properly fed, let alone with their religious/personal beliefs, etc. I will give absolutely no shit about that kind of stupid pointless article. Only thing Obama has done so far is bragging about how good he will be for the people.. well perhaps it's time to polish their bloody image around the world by taking care of not only the fat bastards americans but also the people that have been "raised" by them.

Are ALL the other issues taken care of? Or is Obama once again doing his "Sarkozy" of america by being the new era of tabloid-president?

Arghh!

Comment from egemensoft on 2009-02-23

2009-02-23T11:10:40Z

thnks

Comment from neon on 2009-03-26

2009-03-26T21:39:44Z

oky thanks

Comment from Oyun on 2009-04-27

2009-04-27T15:34:44Z

Nice.Thanks you

Comment from cet on 2009-06-22

2009-06-22T19:41:17Z

tamammıdır

Comment from webcam on 2009-09-24

2009-09-24T08:00:01Z

I worked for Chopra for 2 years before I left in frustration. I can't think of a person less competent at getting things done--he's a self-absorbed, scatterbrained, temper-tantrum-prone prima donna. When told by other parts of Virginia government that he couldn't whatever he felt like doing with Virginia's money, he had a hissy fit and convinced Kaine to set up a technology fund that was outside normal governance. Virginia is now in the process of holding Chopra and his minions accountable for that money. That Chopra is being touted for 'governance' actions is a cruel joke. In short, Chopra was not at all concerned with what was good for Virginia citizens or Virginia government: instead he was intensely focused on promoting himself and doing whatever he needed to do to get a good headline. Good riddance.