Making Open and Machine Readable the New Default for Government Information

2013-05-14Executive Order 13642
Signed by: Barack Obama
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Headline: Government Information Must Be Open and Machine-Readable by Default

What it does: Agencies must make new and modernized government information open and machine-readable and implement the Open Data Policy.

Real World Impact:
  • Gives entrepreneurs public access to machine-readable data for new products.
  • Requires agencies to adopt new data-management and reporting practices.
  • Limits release where privacy, confidentiality, or national security would be jeopardized.
Topics: open data, government transparency, digital government, privacy protections

Summary

This order makes the default for new and modernized government information to be open and machine-readable. It directs agencies to manage information as an asset and to release data when legally permissible.

The Office of Management and Budget must issue an Open Data Policy that agencies implement, and agencies must incorporate privacy, confidentiality, and security reviews before release.

The goal is to make data easier to find and use, encourage new businesses and services, and improve government efficiency while protecting sensitive information.

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