Thread by @Morchickit

1/ I am reading the UK National Data Strategy. Some great stuff, some concerning stuff, but overall, I wish other countries can do this too in the open. Here is a loose thread of my thoughts while I am reading it. Nice job @la_gaia and team! #NationalDataStrategy

2/ There is something very colonial about the phrasing - "Championing the international flow of data." Data Colonialism is real and the UK doesn't need to champion international data flow, it needs to be collaborative. #NationalDataStrategy

3/ I find it strange that this strategy defines data as information. It can be a single piece of information, but the definition there is confusing data types, information and knowledge. Should be a bit tighter, because this will help others as well later. #NationalDataStrategy

4/ Just for example "Data is knowledge". No, Data can create knowledge, it can also be random pieces of facts that comes to nothing. Between data and knowledge there are steps that need to be taken, but having data by itself doesn't mean you have knowledge right away.

5/ But Mor, this is a policy paper, aren't you too philosophical? Well, I think we should be prescribed when doing policy. This strategy already identified skills as a gap, so it knows data by itself can be useless. Definitions are important for common work #NationalDataStrategy

6/ "Many legacy systems are out of date, costly to operate and incapable of exchanging data with one another, presenting challenges in a world where public services are increasingly interconnected"
SUCH AN IMPORTANT POINT and a blocker for so many processes. #NationalDataStrategy

7/ It's great that this report looks at biases in data, but it is mostly refer to #AI and bias. It doesn't speak about power dynamics in the creation of #data, which is also important as analysing it. #NationalDataStrategy #DataFeminism

8/ I am pleased about this question in the consultation - "Please provide any comments about the potential impact the proposals outlined in this consultation may have on individuals with a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010?" #NationalDataStrategy

9/ And we are not Open By Default or Open with Intent anymore? "This is not simply a case of opening up every dataset. We must take a considered, evidence-based approach." #opendata is dead? #NationalDataStrategy

10/ The whole sections about the availability of datasets was weird to me. Seems to replicate work from 10 years ago. I wonder what @owenboswarva @GavinFreeguard @thomasforth think about this. #NationalDataStrategy

11/ This is somewhat encouraging after years of relevant silence about it - "We want to ensure that UK values of openness, transparency and innovation are adopted worldwide."
Just a reminder to us that #transparency is not equal to #open and vice versa.
#NationalDataStrategy

12/ GREAT! "The UK will continue to play a leadership role to meet the urgent need for open, inclusive data, and its commitments under @IATI_aid . And we will continue to support the work of the @opengovpart to open up governments across the globe." #NationalDataStrategy