News from mySociety

Transparency

A new tool for challenging FOI refusals

We've launched a major new feature for WhatDoTheyKnow, now in place and ready to help you push for information that's been incorrectly withheld.

This tool is for users who have had an FOI request refused, helping them understand whether they have grounds to request a review from the authority. Putting in a well-founded challenge can bear results: in fact, 22% of them result in the release of information that had previously been refused. Read more about this new functionality here.

Information not held

One type of refusal is when the authority tells you it doesn't have the information you've requested.

Fair enough — but did you ever stop to think that this can be an interesting outcome in itself? From hospitals that don't hold data on deep cleans to the DWP not having information about frozen pensions, there's plenty to pick up on.

WhatDoTheyKnow and the Wikipedia citation

Wikipedia articles often link to WhatDoTheyKnow pages in their citations, the footnotes that act to verify statements by pointing at a third party source.

We had a look at some of these, and what a variety of information there is! The Garter King of Arms' salary, a lot of facts around TV detector vans, and a collection of police epaulettes for starters.

See what else has been cited in our round-up here.

SocietyWorks

New image powers for council staff on FixMyStreet Pro

Now and again, someone uploads an image to FixMyStreet that reveals a little more than it ought to: the numberplate of a car that's violating parking regulations, perhaps, or the house number of the person making the report.

The latest bit of development on FixMyStreet Pro allows council staff to redact one or more parts of a photo — problem solved!

How do you make a great service for citizens?

If you work for a council and you're involved in making citizen-facing services then you won't want to miss this online session on 22 July.

Join SocietyWorks and Bromley Council to find out how to get started with a design that balances resident requirements with council capacity. Book your place here.

What we're reading

• Whether or not you've made an FOI request, you might have opinions on this government's track record of transparency. Head to openDemocracy's survey, which they'll be using to inform a forthcoming parliamentary inquiry.
• Joined up data: Crony Connect allows you to identify politically-connected individuals, using data from Companies House, the Electoral Commission and the MP's Register of Financial Interests.
• Ever found your seemingly innocent tweet has unintentionally provoked a Twitter storm? Charlie Warzel explains why.
• A journey of discovery about Bristol's electoral boundaries.
• In 'FixMyStreet adjacent' news, someone cut down half a tree, and someone else made a park on wheels.

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