Re-Use of Public Sector Information (PSI) (NO0040)
Overview
At-a-Glance
Action Plan: Norway Action Plan 2013-2015
Action Plan Cycle: 2013
Status: Inactive
Institutions
Lead Institution: The Ministry of Government Administration, Reform and Church Affairs
Support Institution(s): NA
Policy Areas
Access to Information, Capacity Building, E-Government, Open DataIRM Review
IRM Report: Norway End-of-Term Report 2014-2015, Norway Second IRM Progress Report 2013-2014
Starred: No
Early Results: Did Not Change
Design i
Verifiable: No
Relevant to OGP Values: Access to Information , Technology
Implementation i
Description
The Norwegian public administration is working hard to release the potential of PSI. All
subordinate agencies are required by common instructions provided by the
government to make suitable and existing accessible data publicly available.
1. All state enterprises are required to make public data available so that it can be
used by others, i.e. published electronically in a user-friendly format.
2. The government has recently published a call for tender for a case-based, socio-economic analysis of the availability of public geospatial data in Norway. The aim
of the analysis is to identify alternative ways of facilitating the publication of
spatial data in comparison with the current situation. The analysis should
determine which option provides the best overall economic solution. The study
should be ready by Q2 2014.
IRM End of Term Status Summary
5. Re-use of public sector information (PSI)
Commitment Text:
[…]
COMMITMENT DESCRIPTION
1. All state enterprises are required to make public data available so that it can be used by others, i.e. published electronically in a user-friendly format.
2. The government has recently published a call for tender for a case-based, socio-economic analysis of the availability of public geospatial data in Norway. The aim of the analysis is to identify alternative ways of facilitating the publication of spatial data in comparison with the current situation. The analysis should determine which option provides the best overall economic solution. The study should be ready by Q2 2014.
Responsible institution: Ministry of Government Administration, Reform and Church Affairs
Supporting institution(s): None
Start date: Ongoing End date: Ongoing (July 2014 for public release of analysis)
Editorial note: The text of the commitments was abridged for formatting reasons. For the full text of the commitment, please see http://bit.ly/1QlVIja.
Policy Aim
According to the Norwegian government’s self-assessment of action plan implementation, the first component of this commitment is to increase access to public information from several social sectors, thereby increasing effective public administration, facilitating innovation, and improving public accountability. According to the same self-assessment, the second component, which entails contracting a scoping study on alternative mechanisms to publish geo-spatial data, is aimed at understanding the socio-economic benefits that might be achieved by publishing that data free of charge. This objective is founded on the presumption that geodata is widely re-used by third-party application developers and service providers. The results of the study would presumably provide the Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation (KMD) with justification for pursuing the publication of geodata free of charge.
Status
Mid-term: Substantial
Regarding the first milestone, the government held a hearing on the implementation of the European Commission Directive on the Re-use of Public Sector Data and was reviewing submissions to that consultation. It had also initiated an evaluation process of the Norwegian Public Data Licensing System. In fulfillment of the second milestone, the analysis of the availability of public geospatial data in Norway was received and was under consideration.
End-of-term: Substantial
The commitment’s first milestone (“All state enterprises are required to make public data available”) is difficult to evaluate given that “state enterprises,” “data,” and “make public” are not defined. Moreover, despite the fact that there has been a significant increase in the publication of public sector data on open licenses in recent years (the national open data portal hosts data sets from 82 public agencies[Note 31: ”Data.norge.no,” Agency for Public Management and eGovernment, accessed September 13, 2016, http://data.norge.no/organisasjoner. ]), there is no regulatory mechanism compelling all public actors to make all data available, as implied by this commitment. The commitment’s second component (to contract a scoping study) has been completed. A report suggesting the economic advantages of the free release of map data is available on the government’s website.[Note 32: ”Gratis kartdata lønner seg,” Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation, accessed September 4, 2016, https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/Gratis-kartdata-lonner-seg/id754369/.]
Did it open government?
Access to information: Did not change
The activities undertaken under the two components have not improved the quality or quantity of information disclosed by the government. The IRM researcher was unable to identify significant changes to Norway’s regulatory framework for data production by public entities. Any legal instrument compelling agencies to publically release data would be introduced through upcoming amendments to the Freedom of Information Act (see commitment 15). It is noteworthy that institutional culture remains largely opposed to such a mechanism, and the focal point for this commitment described a parliamentary debate in which many ministry representatives expressed concern that such a mechanism will introduce undue burdens on public agencies. In June 2016, the Norwegian Civil Ombudsman criticized a Norwegian municipal government for refusing to release public sector data in spreadsheet form, on the grounds that it could be manipulated.[Note 33: ”Fylkesmannens saksbehandlingstid ved behandling av klage i innsynssak,” Sivilombudsmannen (July 1, 2016), accessed September 12, 2016, https://www.sivilombudsmannen.no/uttalelser/fylkesmannens-saksbehandlingstid-ved-behandling-av-klage-i-innsynssak-article4429-114.html. ] Such instances suggest that, in the absence of a law compelling agencies to release information, institutional culture in many public agencies is a significant obstacle to the achievement of this commitment’s first component. Regarding the second component, the IRM researcher did not identify any changes to Norwegian policy on the publication of geospatial data, as was suggested might follow from the contracting of the geodata study.
Carried forward?
This commitment has not been carried forward in the Norwegian government’s third national action plan, which is available on the OGP website.[Note 34: ”Norway’s third action plan Open Government Partnership (OGP),” Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation, accessed September 4, 2016, http://www.opengovpartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2001/01/Norway_2016-17_NAP.pdf.]
Commitments
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Archiving Documents
NO0054, 2019, Capacity Building
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Making Energy Statistics Available
NO0055, 2019, Anti-Corruption
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e-Access and Expansion
NO0056, 2019, Access to Information
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Open Cultural Data
NO0057, 2019, Access to Information
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Digital Spatial Planning
NO0058, 2019, E-Government
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Streamline Public Procurement
NO0059, 2019, Anti-Corruption
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Preventing Corruption
NO0060, 2019, Anti-Corruption
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Beneficial Ownership Registry
NO0061, 2019, Anti-Corruption
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User Orientation
NO0045, 2016, Capacity Building
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Electronic Public Records (OEP)
NO0046, 2016, E-Government
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Transparency Regarding Environmental Information
NO0047, 2016, E-Government
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Disclosure of Financial Data
NO0048, 2016, Access to Information
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Transparency Regarding Rainforest Funds
NO0049, 2016, E-Government
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State Employees’ Ownership of Shares
NO0050, 2016, Anti-Corruption
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Promote Freedom of Expression and Independent Media
NO0051, 2016, Civic Space
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Country-By-Country Reporting
NO0052, 2016, Anti-Corruption
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Register for Ultimate Beneficial Ownership
NO0053, 2016, Anti-Corruption
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Public Review and Public Consultation
NO0020, 2013, Capacity Building
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Registering and Preserving Digital Documentation Produced by Public Bodies
NO0021, 2013, Access to Information
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The Norwegian Citizen Survey (Innbyggerundersøkelsen)
NO0022, 2013, Public Participation
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Whistleblowing
NO0023, 2013, Anti-Corruption
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Strengthened Information Exchange for More Efficient Crime Prevention and Combating
NO0024, 2013, Justice
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Strengthening the Transparency of Public Authorities and Administration
NO0025, 2013, Access to Information
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Egovernment with an End-User Focus
NO0026, 2013, E-Government
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Plain Legal Language
NO0027, 2013, Capacity Building
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Norwegian Grants Portal (MFA)
NO0028, 2013, Aid
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An International Convention or Agreement on Financial Transparency
NO0029, 2013, Private Sector
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Reducing Conflicts of Interests – Post-Employment Regulations
NO0030, 2013, Anti-Corruption
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Centre for Integrity in the Defence Sector
NO0031, 2013, Security & Public Safety
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A Better Overview of Committees, Boards and Councils – More Public Access to Information and Better Opportunities for Further Use
NO0032, 2013, E-Government
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Modernizing Public Governance
NO0033, 2013, Capacity Building
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Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues
NO0034, 2013, Anti-Corruption
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Transparency in the Management of the Government Pension Fund (GPF)
NO0035, 2013, E-Government
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Transparency and Anti-Corruption Efforts
NO0036, 2013, Anti-Corruption
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The Municipal Sector
NO0037, 2013, Education
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“Simplify” (“Enkelt Og Greit”)
NO0038, 2013, E-Government
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Electronic Public Records (OEP) – (Offentlig Elektronisk Postjournal)
NO0039, 2013, Access to Information
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Re-Use of Public Sector Information (PSI)
NO0040, 2013, Access to Information
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Access to Health Data
NO0041, 2013, E-Government
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Renewal of the Government’S Website (Regjeringen.No – Government.No)
NO0042, 2013, E-Government
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Declaration of Principles for Interaction and Dialogue with NGOs
NO0043, 2013, Capacity Building
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Simplification and Digital Administration of Arrangements for NGOs
NO0044, 2013, Capacity Building
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An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government
NO0001, 2011, Anti-Corruption
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Measures to Promote Gender Equality and Women’S Full Participation in Civic Life, the Private Sector, the Public Administration and Political Processes.
NO0002, 2011, Gender
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Gender Equality – Participation in the Private Sector
NO0003, 2011, Gender
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Increase Women's Representation in Local Government
NO0004, 2011, Gender
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Gender Equality Program
NO0005, 2011, Gender
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Gender Equality – Inclusion of Immigrant Women
NO0006, 2011, Gender
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Gender Equality – Combat Gender Stereotypes
NO0007, 2011, Gender
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Gender Equality – Youth Initiatives
NO0008, 2011, Gender
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Gender Equality – Combat Domestic Violence
NO0009, 2011, Gender
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Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues / Financial Transparency
NO0010, 2011, Aid
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Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues / Financial Transparency – Government Global Pension Fund
NO0011, 2011, Fiscal Openness
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Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues / Financial Transparency – Combat Tax Evasion
NO0012, 2011, Fiscal Openness
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Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues / Financial Transparency – Multi-National Companies
NO0013, 2011, Fiscal Openness
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An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government – Create Central Communication Policy
NO0014, 2011, Fiscal Openness
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An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government
NO0015, 2011, E-Government
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An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government – Public Data Use
NO0016, 2011, Public Participation
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An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government – National Statistic Publication
NO0017, 2011, Access to Information
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An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government – National Public Opinion Survey
NO0018, 2011,
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An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government
NO0019, 2011, Public Participation