The coronavirus pandemic has turned our world upside down.
For those of us who campaign for openness, our beliefs were already under threat before this outbreak in many different and challenging ways. Now, with disinformation rampant, governments introducing emergency measures, and restrictions being imposed on people, our job is even harder.
But there is hope. Openness is the way we will get through this global crisis. Open research and sharing data and information openly will likely lead to the creation of a vaccine in record time which will save lives. If ever there was an example of the importance of open knowledge to the public, here it is.
With your help, we'll continue to work for a fair, free and open future where knowledge is shared by all - freely available to everyone, a world where people are able to fulfil their potential and live happy and healthy lives.
The mission of the Open Knowledge Foundation is to create a more open world – a world where all non-personal information is open, free for everyone to use, build on and share; and creators and innovators are fairly recognised and rewarded.
Highlights from our projects
The Open Knowledge Justice Programme is our new project aimed at developing learning resources, training programmes and legal strategies to support legal professionals in the fight for algorithmic accountability.
Learn more at okfn.org/justice and see the events section for details of a free webinar on 30th April.
As well as unveiling a new look for the Frictionless Data website, we have announced the Frictionless Data Tool Fund, a mini-grant scheme offering $5,000 to support individuals or organisations in developing open tools for reproducible science or research built using the Frictionless Data specifications and software.
Apply by 17th May 2020.
The tumultuous debate around algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) appeared to us as an opportunity to mobilise our unique experience with open data and data literacy and create positive change. After all, the issues of transparency, accountability, ethics and civic empowerment that we’ve addressed while working on open data are also present in the civic and political debate around algorithms and AI. Even more, it appears to us that our experience building communities, defining shared concepts, and raising data literacy translate directly to this new field.
This is why the Open Knowledge Foundation is making a new commitment – to apply our unique skills and network to the emerging issues of AI and algorithms.
On Saturday 7th March 2020, the tenth Open Data Day took place with people around the world organising over 300 events to celebrate, promote and spread the use of open data. Thanks to generous support from key funders, the Open Knowledge Foundation was able to support the running of more than 60 of these events via our mini-grants scheme.
Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, members of the Open Knowledge Network have joined efforts across the world to tackle the pandemic with open data, technology and information. Here are just a few examples of their work:
Open Knowledge Brazil launched a successful legal challenge to get the Brazilian government to release more open data to help in the fight against COVID-19. The chapter has since launched a COVID-19 data transparency site for Brazil
Members of the Open Knowledge Switzerland team joined with other open data experts, public health officials and government workers to generate comprehensive and timely open data on the spread of COVID-19 in all the Swiss cantons that make up the country
Open Knowledge Belgium partnered for the Hack the Crisis Belgium initiative, bringing together the tech and start-up world to launch a public platform to create dedicated solutions
In Germany, Code for Germany – an Open Knowledge Germany project – was one of the partners which initiated the huge WirVsVirus hackathon aimed at solving COVID-19 issues with over 40,000 people taking part
Open Knowledge Switzerland are offering up to 100,000 CHF to support ideas and develop prototypes for smart participation in Swiss democracy. Submit your application by 14 May and find out more at prototypefund.opendata.ch.
The Prototype Fund is a joint initiative by Opendata.ch and the Foundation Mercator Switzerland.
Upcoming events
The Open Knowledge Justice Programme is offering a free webinar discussing Al and algorithms in the Covid-19 context from 4pm to 5:30pm BST on Thursday 30th April 2020. The event will cover an introduction to automated decision systems and unveil the methodology we have developed for legal professionals to investigate them and enforce accountability. Register now to attend.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, csv,conf,v5 - a community conference for data makers everywhere - will be going virtual on 13/14th May 2020 and it is now free to attend. Sign up via csvconf.com. The Open Knowledge Foundation is happy to again be supporting the organisation of csv,conf,v5 alongside organisations including DataCite, Datopian and The Carpentries.
