Because the government (and, indeed, Parliament - see dataset provisions of Protection of Freedoms Act) is committed to enabling reuse of public sector data.
Authorities often receive criticism for PDF disclosure (see Chris Graham's reference to the "curse of PDF" at the post-legislative scrutiny hearings: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmjust/uc1849-iii/uc184901.htm)
Jonathan
On 14 Jun 2013, at 08:14, "Grimbaldus" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
I find it hard to understand why 'original' documents rather than (say) PDFs of the extracted information are being supplied.
Ignorance, expediency, or stupidity?
M
Sent from my iPad
On 13 Jun 2013, at 17:05, "Baines, Jonathan" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
Apologies for sending this to both lists, but I think it's an issue of considerable importance.
The MySociety team have just issued guidance/warning to public authorities about the risks of inadvertent disclosure of sensitive hidden data in spreadsheets. Rumours of serious breaches, both through FOI and Open Data disclosure have been going round for some time now. I think it would be very helpful if the ICO could also issue guidance and warning.
http://www.mysociety.org/2013/06/13/whatdotheyknow-team-urge-caution-when-using-excel-to-depersonalise-data/
Jonathan Baines
Complaints and Information Rights Officer
Legal and Democratic Services
Buckinghamshire County Council
01296 383681
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