This blog complements E-Government Bulletin, an email newsletter on the use of digital technologies to enhance public services & democracy

South Pacific Progress

March 8th, 2010

By Carol Hayward and Tristan Parker
Some 78% of New Zealanders use the internet and 71% of users rate the internet as a more important source of information than family and friends, according to a 2007 survey by Auckland University of Technology. However, the country’s local councils have been slow to capitalise on the opportunities ... Read More

Data Offenders ‘Should Face Jail’, Says Commissioner

March 8th, 2010

There should be tougher penalties, including jail sentences where appropriate, for those who breach data security laws, the UK’s Information Commissioner Christopher Graham told delegates at a recent meeting of the Parliamentary IT Committee (PITCOM).
Citing the case of employees of telecommunications operator T-Mobile who, it is alleged, last year stole and sold on the ... Read More

Budget Struggles In New Zealand’s Quest For E-Government

March 8th, 2010

Local councils in New Zealand are struggling with limited funding and central government policy support as they look to implement e-democracy and e-government services over the next decade, according to a special report for E-Government Bulletin.
Clear progress is being made nevertheless, as councils develop a range of innovative, low-cost e-government and e-democracy measures including ... Read More

UK Council Sites Lack Key Democracy Information

March 8th, 2010

UK council websites often lack key information on local democracy, according to this year’s ‘Better Connected’ snapshot survey of websites from public sector ICT professionals’ body Socitm ( http://bit.ly/dltkU5 ).
Almost two-thirds of websites (65%) fail to present details of when and where local councillor surgeries are to be held. More than half the sites ... Read More

Mapping Out the Future for Ordnance Survey

February 22nd, 2010

The announcement by Prime Minister Gordon Brown late in 2009 that the government intends to allow freer use of geographical and location data created by Ordnance Survey was the latest twist in a debate which has raged for decades. Small companies, public bodies and others have complained for some time that they should not have ... Read More

Stop Broadcasting And Start Engaging, MPs Told

February 22nd, 2010

British MPs are still failing to use the internet to establish two-way dialogue with citizens, the author of a new national study on the topic has told E-Government Bulletin.
The study, ‘Digital citizens and democratic participation’ ( http://bit.ly/9hCXMU ),was carried out by Andy Williamson, director of the eDemocracy Programme at parliamentary charity the Hansard Society. ... Read More

Map Data Freedom Could Damage Quality, Expert Warns.

February 22nd, 2010

The freeing up of restrictions on the use of Ordnance Survey data, including cutting or removing fees for its use, could result in the production of lower quality UK mapping data in future, a leading analyst has warned.
Michael Blakemore, Emeritus Professor of Geography at Durham University, told the Parliamentary IT Committee (PITCOM) that when ... Read More