ePSIplatform Topic Report No. 2014 / 04 , April 2014 2 Cpen uaLa as a 1ool Lo llghL CorrupLlon
!"#$% '( )'*+%*+ keywords: ....................................................................................................................................................................... 3 AbsLracL/ LxecuLlve Summary: ....................................................................................................................................... 3 1. lnLroducLlon: why open daLa ln Lhe conLexL of corrupLlon? ................................................................................ 4 2. Web developmenL and exlsLence of open daLa as parL of enabllng envlronmenL for (anLl)corrupLlon ............... 3 3. Ceneral observaLlon: Cpen daLa ln Lhe conLexL of Lransparency, parLlclpaLlon and accounLablllLy .................... 6 4. Clobal CorrupLlon 8aromeLer .............................................................................................................................. 7 (1) CLl1lCAL A81lLS, CC88u1lCn Anu CLn uA1A ...................................................................................... 8 8elevanL publlc secLor lnformaLlon LhaL should be ln a publlc domaln ................................................................ 9 Lxample on re-use of open daLa abouL pollLlcal parLy flnanclng: hLLp://lnfluenceexplorer.com/ ....................... 9 (2) A8LlAMLn1 / LLClSLA1u8L, CC88u1lCn Anu CLn uA1A ....................................................................... 9 8elevanL parllamenLary daLa LhaL should be ln a publlc domaln ........................................................................ 10 Lxample of parllamenLary daLa re-use: www.abgeordneLenwaLch.de ............................................................... 11 (3) MLulA, CC88u1lCn Anu CLn uA1A ........................................................................................................ 11 8elevanL daLa abouL medla LhaL should be ln a publlc domaln .......................................................................... 12 Lxample on re-use of daLa relaLed Lo medla Lransparency: www.sLlrna.lnfo ..................................................... 13 (4) 8uSlnLSS, CC88u1lCn Anu CLn uA1A ................................................................................................... 13 8elevanL daLa abouL buslness LhaL should be ln a publlc domaln ....................................................................... 13 Lxample of re-use of open daLa abouL buslness: www.opencorporaLes.com .................................................... 13 (3) !uulClA8?, CC88u1lCn Anu CLn uA1A .................................................................................................. 14 8elevanL daLa abouL [udlclary LhaL should be avallable ln a publlc domaln ....................................................... 14 Lxample of re-use of [udlclal daLa: www.oLvorenesudy.sk ................................................................................. 14 (6) u8LlC ClllClALS, ClvlL SL8vAn1S, CC88u1lCn Anu CLn uA1A ........................................................... 13 8elevanL daLa LhaL should be ln a publlc domaln ................................................................................................ 13 Lxample of re-use of asseL declaraLlons daLa: www.rekvlzlLal.vz.lL/deklaracl[os ............................................... 16 (7) LC88?lnC, CC88u1lCn Anu CLn uA1A .................................................................................................. 16 8elevanL daLa LhaL should be ln a publlc domaln ................................................................................................ 16 Lxample of re-use of lobbylng-relaLed daLa: hLLp://reporLlng.sunllghLfoundaLlon.com/lobbylng/reglsLraLlons16 (8) u8LlC 8CCu8LMLn1, CC88u1lCn Anu CLn uA1A ............................................................................. 17 8elevanL daLa LhaL should be ln a publlc domaln ................................................................................................ 17 Lxample of re-use of publlc procuremenL daLa: hLLp://Lender.sme.sk ............................................................... 17 4. CCnCLuulnC 8LMA8kS Anu 8LCCMMLnuA1lCnS ......................................................................................... 18 AbouL Lhe AuLhor .......................................................................................................................................................... 20 CopyrlghL lnformaLlon .................................................................................................................................................. 20
ePSIplatform Topic Report No. 2014 / 04 , April 2014 3 Cpen uaLa as a 1ool Lo llghL CorrupLlon
3#1+/"4+5 67%48+9:% ;8<<"/-2 1hls reporL wlll suggesL a non-exhausLlve overvlew of how release and re-use of open daLa can help curb on a range of corrupLlon forms ln a number of secLors by (1) lnLroduclng dlfferenL Lypes of corrupLlon ln varlous secLors, (2) suggesLlng a llsL of relevanL daLa LhaL could (should) be released ln a parLlcular conLexL and (3) demonsLraLlng good pracLlce examples of lnformaLlon and daLa re-use for Lhe Lransparency beneflL ln Lhese parLlcular secLors. lL wlll conclude wlLh a number of recommendaLlons Lo governmenLs Lowards reallzlng poLenLlal of open governmenL daLa as a Lool Lo flghL corrupLlon and curb on bureaucracy.
ePSIplatform Topic Report No. 2014 / 04 , April 2014 4 Cpen uaLa as a 1ool Lo llghL CorrupLlon
=> ?*+/'084+9'*2 .@- 'A%* 0"+" 9* +@% 4'*+%7+ '( 4'//8A+9'*B Whlle economlc lmpacLs of releaslng and re-uslng publlc secLor lnformaLlon and open daLa have been on Lhe forefronL of argumenLs for openlng governmenL daLa, lLs poLenLlal Lo conLrlbuLe Lo reduced levels of corrupLlon cannoL be overlooked. LlLLle has been done Lo research and grasp how open daLa can conLrlbuLe Lo Lhe flghL agalnsL corrupLlon and dlscusslons have been malnly held on a concepLual level. lL has been wldely accepLed, however, LhaL access Lo publlc lnformaLlon and avallablllLy of open governmenL daLa boosL publlc Lransparency and poLenLlally conLrlbuLe Lo an lncreased levels of accounLablllLy and soclal conLrol ln a counLry. 1he blgger quesLlon, however, ls how can one grasp and measure lmpacLs of open daLa ln Lerms of reduclng corrupLlon levels ln a counLry and Lhus maxlmlze Lhe poLenLlal beneflLs releaslng open daLa may brlng. 1here are many deflnlLlons of corrupLlon. 1he global coallLlon leadlng Lhe flghL agalnsL corrupLlon, 1ransparency lnLernaLlonal, deflnes corrupLlon as Lhe mlsuse of publlc power for prlvaLe beneflL. 1he deflnlLlon encompasses a very wlde range of abuse Lypes - lL ls noL easy Lo break lL down lnLo Lypes or secLors LhaL leaves ouL no senslLlve corrupLlon-relaLed abuses or lssues. 1herefore, Lhls reporL wlll focus on forms of corrupLlon and affecLed secLors as dlcLaLed by leadlng anLlcorrupLlon lndlces and surveys. ln Lhls way, whlle acknowledglng LhaL lL ls noL lnLended Lo exhausLlvely cover corrupLlon as a concepL ln lLs enLlreLy, lL wlll raLher focus on secLors and corrupLlon-relaLed lssues LhaL are mosL presslng and evldenL. 1hls reporL wlll suggesL a non-exhausLlve overvlew of how release and re-use of open daLa can help curb on a range of corrupLlon forms ln a number of secLors by (1) lnLroduclng dlfferenL Lypes of corrupLlon ln varlous secLors, (2) suggesLlng a llsL of relevanL daLa LhaL could be released ln a parLlcular conLexL and (3) demonsLraLlng good pracLlce examples of lnformaLlon and daLa re-use ln Lhese parLlcular secLors. lL wlll conclude wlLh a number of recommendaLlons Lo governmenLs Lowards reallzlng poLenLlal LhaL open governmenL daLa brlngs Lo flghL corrupLlon and curb on bureaucracy.
ePSIplatform Topic Report No. 2014 / 04 , April 2014 5 Cpen uaLa as a 1ool Lo llghL CorrupLlon
C> D%# 0%:%$'A<%*+ "*0 %791+%*4% '( 'A%* 0"+" "1 A"/+ '( %*"#$9*E %*:9/'*<%*+ ('/ F"*+9G4'//8A+9'* 17 counLrles leadlng Lhe CorrupLlon ercepLlon lndex can also be found ln Lop 20 llsL of elLher Web uevelopmenL lndex or Cpen uaLa lndex. Corrupt|on ercept|on Index 2013 Web Index 2013 Cpen Data Index 2013 Sweden uenmark unlLed klngdom norway new Zealand unlLed SLaLes unlLed klngdom llnland uenmark unlLed SLaLes Sweden norway new Zealand norway neLherlands uenmark Slngapore llnland llnland SwlLzerland Sweden lceland neLherlands new Zealand lrance AusLralla AusLralla 8epubllc of korea Canada Canada AusLralla Luxembourg lceland neLherlands Cermany Moldova !apan lceland 8ulgarla AusLrla unlLed klngdom MalLa Canada 8arbados lLaly Cermany 8elglum lrance SwlLzerland Pong kong AusLrla LsLonla !apan orLugal lreland unlLed SLaLes Slovenla 8elglum uruguay SwlLzerland AlLhough, lL cannoL by any means be sLaLed LhaL Lhe sLaLe of web developmenL or amounL of open daLa avallable slnglehandedly deLermlne levels of corrupLlon ln any counLry, lL ls clear LhaL facLors, such as Lhe web developmenL, exLenL Lo whlch publlc daLa ls open and oLhers do have an lmpacL on corrupLlon percepLlon levels.
ePSIplatform Topic Report No. 2014 / 04 , April 2014 6 Cpen uaLa as a 1ool Lo llghL CorrupLlon
1hls ln any way ls noL surprlslng. 1ransparency, access Lo lnformaLlon and avallablllLy of publlc secLor daLa have been accepLed as means Lo flghL corrupLlon by many governmenLs and anLlcorrupLlon organlzaLlons. 1he more deLalled llnks beLween economlc and soclal developmenLs and Lhe web developmenLs have already been explored ln a prevlous LSl Loplc reporL on open daLa lmpacLs (hLLp://www.epslplaLform.eu/conLenL/undersLandlng-lmpacL- releaslng-and-re-uslng-open-governmenL-daLa). H> I%*%/"$ '#1%/:"+9'*2 JA%* 0"+" 9* +@% 4'*+%7+ '( +/"*1A"/%*4-K A"/+949A"+9'* "*0 "44'8*+"#9$9+- Access Lo publlc lnformaLlon and avallablllLy of open governmenL daLa can have prevenLlve and poslLlve effecLs Lowards levels of corrupLlon. lL has been unlversally accepLed LhaL release and re-use of publlc secLor daLa lmproves good governance, effecLlveness and clLlzen parLlclpaLlon. As Lhe World 8ank puLs lL, open governmenL daLa ls regarded as a caLalysL of mulLlple publlc pollcy and developmenL achlevemenLs. 8y sheddlng llghL on prevlously hldden aspecLs of governmenLal acLlvlLles, declslons, and expendlLures, open governmenL daLa ls expecLed Lo sLrengLhen Lhe ablllLy of clvll socleLy Lo monlLor Lhe performance of governmenLs, and lead Lo Langlble soclal accounLablllLy ouLcomes. 1he ma[or beneflLs expecLed from open governmenL daLa are Lhe followlng:
romot|ng good governance and curb|ng corrupt|on. uaLa on governmenLal expendlLures and performance ls Lhe core of CCu lnlLlaLlves. 1he release of such daLa may allow clvll socleLy Lo expose governmenLal mlsconducL and help curb corrupLlon, Improv|ng the effect|veness of pub||c serv|ce prov|s|on. Lxposlng lnformaLlon abouL malfuncLlonlng servlce provlders may help clLlzens make beLLer-lnformed cholces
ePSIplatform Topic Report No. 2014 / 04 , April 2014 7 Cpen uaLa as a 1ool Lo llghL CorrupLlon
regardlng Lhe servlces Lhey consume, and lnduce servlce provlders Lo lmprove Lhelr performance. Strengthen|ng c|t|zen part|c|pat|on. Whlle CCu lnlLlaLlves usually do noL provlde dlrecL channels for clLlzen engagemenL, Lhey may creaLe Lhe grounds for more lnformed and effecLlve clLlzen parLlclpaLlon by oLher means 1 . 1he prevlous LSl Loplc reporL on open daLa lmpacLs 2 explalns ln a beLLer deLall whaL soclal, economlc and pollLlcal lmpacLs release and re-use of open daLa may have and how can we measure Lhese lmpacLs. 1he goal of Lhls reporL ls Lo explore ln a beLLer deLall how open daLa can affecL corrupLlon levels ln parLlcular secLors. We wlll use leadlng corrupLlon lndlces and surveys and Lhen Lry Lo grasp Lhe poLenLlal LhaL open daLa brlngs Lowards curblng corrupLlon ln Lhese speclflc secLors. L> I$'#"$ )'//8A+9'* M"/'<%+%/ 1ransparency lnLernaLlonal's Clobal CorrupLlon 8aromeLer (CC8) ls a valld reference polnL Lo ldenLlfy secLors of socleLy LhaL are percelved by Lhe people Lo be mosL corrupL. lL ls Lhe largesL cross-counLry survey Lo collecL Lhe general publlc's vlews on, and experlences of, corrupLlon. ln 2013, 1ransparency lnLernaLlonal lnLervlewed over 114,000 people ln 107 counLrles for Lhelr vlews on corrupLlon. We wlll use Lhe CC8 resulLs as an lndlcaLlon as Lo whlch secLors of socleLy deserve more aLLenLlon ln Lerms of corrupLlon and wlll explore lf open daLa has a role Lo play ln flghLlng corrupLlon ln Lhese parLlcular secLors. 1he CC8 looks aL a large number of secLors LhaL, accordlng Lo Lhe survey respondenLs, are mosL llkely Lo be affecLed by corrupLlon. 1he secLors LhaL Lhls reporL chose Lo address are Lhe followlng: (1) o||t|ca| part|es (almosL every second country ln Lhe world percelves pollLlcal parLles Lo be among lnsLlLuLlons mosLly affecLed by corrupLlon),
1 Towards Open Government for Enhanced Social Accountability, World Bank: http://www.google.lt/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CF4QFjAE&ur l=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.opendta.org%2FDocuments%2FHow%2520To%2520- %2520Open%2520Government%2520DRAFT.pdf&ei=wKoxU9XaBsSI4ASH94DYBA&usg=AFQjCNGw5V xaO4nboa9wizVaodqirjVBmQ 2 Understanding the Impact of Releasing and Re-using Open Government Data: http://www.epsiplatform.eu/content/understanding-impact-releasing-and-re-using-open-government-data
ePSIplatform Topic Report No. 2014 / 04 , April 2014 8 Cpen uaLa as a 1ool Lo llghL CorrupLlon
(2) ar||ament and |eg|s|ature (7 countr|es worldwlde percelve parllamenL Lo be among lnsLlLuLlons mosL affecLed by corrupLlon), (3) Med|a (4 countr|es worldwlde percelve medla Lo be among lnsLlLuLlons mosL affecLed by corrupLlon), (4) 8us|ness and pr|vate sector (3 countr|es worldwlde percelve buslness Lo be among mosL corrupL secLors), (S) Iud|c|ary (every f|fth counLry worldwlde percelves [udlclary Lo be corrupL) (6) ub||c off|c|a|s and c|v|| servants (7 countr|es worldwlde percelve publlc offlclals as corrupL), ln addlLlon Lo Lhe secLors covered by Lhe Clobal CorrupLlon 8aromeLer, we also chose Lo explore addlLlonal secLors LhaL are accepLed Lo be corrupLlon-senslLlve, namely (7) |obby|ng and (8) pub||c f|nance management. 1hls reporL wlll focus on each of Lhese secLors and wlll explore Lhem ln a followlng sLrucLure: 1. Why ls lL lmporLanL Lo explore a parLlcular Lype of corrupLlon or affecLed secLor, 2. WhaL relaLed daLa does publlc secLor normally possess LhaL can conLrlbuLe Lo curblng on bureaucracy and corrupLlon ln LhaL parLlcular secLor and, 3. WhaL are relaLed daLa re-use examples LhaL conLrlbuLe Lo curblng on bureaucracy and corrupLlon ln LhaL parLlcular secLor.
F=G NJO?!?)3O N3P!?6;K )JPPQN!?JR 3RS JN6R S3!3 Money and pollLlcs are lnexLrlcably llnked. 1he funcLlonlng of conLemporary democracles necesslLaLes pollLlcal flnanclng and Lhe comblnaLlon of prlvaLe and publlc fundlng sources. Powever, Lhere ls a sLrong need Lo conLrol unfalr and lllegal pracLlces and Lo regulaLe pollLlcal flnance ln llghL of Lhe role pollLlcal parLles play ln Lhe democraLlc process. 1ransparency ln pollLlcal flnanclng has been accepLed as a key measure Lo flghL pollLlcal corrupLlon. 3
Access Lo pollLlcal parLy flnanclng lnformaLlon plays a cruclal role and open governmenL daLa concerned can become an effecLlve dlslnfecLanL Lo pollLlcal corrupLlon.
3 u4, ubllcaLlon on CorrupLlon ln ollLlcal arLy llnanclng and LlecLoral Campalgns: hLLp://www.u4.no/publlcaLlons/corrupLlon-ln-pollLlcal-parLy-flnanclng-and-elecLoral- campalgns/#sLhash.S41!z3LL.dpuf
ePSIplatform Topic Report No. 2014 / 04 , April 2014 9 Cpen uaLa as a 1ool Lo llghL CorrupLlon
ke|evant pub||c sector |nformat|on that shou|d be |n a pub||c doma|n 1he mosL lmporLanL daLa on pollLlcal parLles lncludes: ueLalled budgeLary and lncome lnformaLlon, llnanclal (lncome and expendlLure) and acLlvlLy reporLs, LlsL of members and afflllaLlons, LlsL of donors and pollLlcal conLrlbuLors, arLy members' lnLeresL and asseL declaraLlons. CfLen, parL of Lhls daLa ls dlsclosed Lo Lhe socleLy by publlc elecLlon commlsslons. Powever, lL ls lmporLanL Lo ensure LhaL pollLlcal parLles do proacLlvely dlsclose Lhls Lype of daLa ln open sLandards on Lhelr webslLes or any oLher channels of communlcaLlon. Lxamp|e on re-use of open data about po||t|ca| party f|nanc|ng: http:]]|nf|uenceexp|orer.com] A large number of parllamenLary monlLorlng Lools onllne have been focuslng on re-uslng lnformaLlon on Ms and pollLlcal parLles. Accordlng Lo Lhe MC sLudy 4 , more Lhan 80 of parllamenLary monlLorlng organlzaLlons re-use Lhls Lype of lnformaLlon ln one way or anoLher. 1he role model example of a re-use of pollLlcal parLy flnanclng daLa ls SunllghL loundaLlon's lnfluence Lxplorer. lL offers a user-frlendly way Lo revlew and recelve federal campalgn flnance daLa for candldaLes, ACs and ouLslde spendlng groups ln Lhe unlLed SLaLes. 1he 8ealLlme lLC secLlon Lakes offlclal lederal LlecLlon Commlsslon (lLC) daLa for Lhe currenL elecLlon cycle and presenLs lL ln a more user-frlendly formaL.
FCG N3PO?3T6R! 5 O6I?;O3!QP6K )JPPQN!?JR 3RS JN6R S3!3 1ransparency lnLernaLlonal uk ouLllnes Lhe mosL common corrupLlon-senslLlve lssues when lL comes Lo parllamenLs and leglslaLure: 1he reglme for parllamenLary expenses,
4 Strengthening Parliamentary Accountability, Citizen Engagement and Access to Information, can be found at https://www.ndi.org/files/governance-parliamentary-monitoring-organizations-survey-september- 2011.pdf
ePSIplatform Topic Report No. 2014 / 04 , April 2014 10 Cpen uaLa as a 1ool Lo llghL CorrupLlon
Lobbylng of pollLlclans by Lhose who can apparenLly buy access LhaL lnfluences leglslaLlon, spendlng prlorlLles or pollcy declslons, 1he revolvlng door beLween governmenL and buslness, ollLlcal parLy fundlng, and CverslghL reglmes. 1o lllusLraLe, Lhe uk arllamenLary expenses scandal ln 2009 was a ma[or pollLlcal scandal Lrlggered by Lhe leak and subsequenL publlcaLlon by Lhe 1elegraph Croup ln 2009 of expense clalms made by members of Lhe unlLed klngdom arllamenL over several years. ubllc ouLrage was caused by dlsclosure of wldespread acLual and alleged mlsuse of Lhe permlLLed allowances and expenses clalmed by Members of arllamenL (Ms), followlng falled aLLempLs by parllamenL Lo prevenL dlsclosure under lreedom of lnformaLlon leglslaLlon. 8eleaslng open daLa concerned can enable a wlder seL of sLakeholders Lo monlLor Lhe acLlvlLles or parllamenLs and Lhus lncrease Lhelr accounLablllLy. ke|evant par||amentary data that shou|d be |n a pub||c doma|n lor a deLalled llsL of parllamenLary lnformaLlon LhaL should be ln a publlc domaln, refer Lo Lhe LSl reporL on arllamenLary lnformaLlcs 3 LhaL suggesL a deLalled plcLure on whaL daLa parllamenLs posses and how should LhaL daLa be dlsclosed Lo Lhe publlc. 1he key daLa LhaL should be dlsclosed wlLh regards Lo parllamenLs and leglslaLure ls: 1. ar||amentary budget and adm|n|strat|ve data, such as Lhe parllamenLary budgeL (a wlde range of documenLs concerned), parllamenL's organlzaLlon sLrucLure, publlc procuremenL calls and much more, 2. Leg|s|at|ve data, such as LexL of laws, bllls and complemenLlng documenLs, publlcaLlon of Lhe consLlLuLlon of Lhe commlLLees and Lhelr agendas, plenary and commlLLee aLLendance, voLlng ln Lhe plenary and commlLLee, sLenographlc verslons of plenarles eLc., 3. Data on Ms and po||t|ca| part|es, such as educaLlonal and professlonal background lnformaLlon, personal lnformaLlon (marlLal sLaLus, age, chlldren), conLacL lnformaLlon (emall/Lelephone/malllng address), parLy afflllaLlon, sLaLlsLlcs on parllamenLary performance, llsL of campalgn conLrlbuLors and sponsors, parllamenLary poslLlons
ePSIplatform Topic Report No. 2014 / 04 , April 2014 11 Cpen uaLa as a 1ool Lo llghL CorrupLlon
(lncludlng prevlous posLs), asseL and lnLeresL declaraLlons, llnks Lo oLher sources of lnformaLlon (blogs) eLc, Lxamp|e of par||amentary data re-use: www.abgeordnetenwatch.de Cne of Lhe mosL successful examples, overseelng nearly 7,000 vlslLors a day and handllng more Lhan 80 of M/clLlzen quesLlons ln Cermany, ls www.abgeordneLenwaLch.de whlch conLalns lnformaLlon on Cerman 8undesLag Ms and parLles, and provldes an easy avenue for communlcaLlon wlLh Ms. lL allows lLs vlslLors Lo quesLlon Lhelr members of parllamenL ln a publlc envlronmenL, flnd ouL abouL Lhe voLlng record of Lhelr members of parllamenL, follow up on promlses made (all quesLlons and answers are saved forever), learn all abouL Lhe exLra earnlngs of members of parllamenL. ?ou can flnd more lnformaLlon abouL parllamenLary openness aL www.openlngparllamenL.org whlch ls a forum |ntended to he|p connect the wor|d's c|v|c organ|zat|ons engaged |n mon|tor|ng, support|ng and open|ng up the|r countr|es' par||aments and |eg|s|at|ve |nst|tut|ons. lL also serves as Lhe home of Lhe !"#$%&%'()* )* ,%&$(%-"*'%&. /0"**"11, a seL of shared prlnclples on Lhe openness, Lransparency and accesslblllLy of parllamenLs supporLed by more Lhan 140 organlzaLlons from over 73 counLrles. FHG T6S?3K )JPPQN!?JR 3RS JN6R S3!3 1he medla ls ofLen referred Lo as Lhe fourLh plllar ln democracy and a free and lndependenL press has a slgnlflcanL and lmporLanL role ln flghLlng corrupLlon. Many sLudles have shown a sLrong poslLlve correlaLlon beLween freedom of Lhe press and conLrol of corrupLlon and emphaslse Lhe lmporLance of medla plurallLy, medla freedom and compeLlLlon ln curblng corrupLlon 6 . 1here ls a broad consensus LhaL a free press helps curblng corrupLlon by lmprovlng clLlzens' accesslblllLy Lo lnformaLlon whlch ln Lurn makes lL more dlfflculL for pollLlclans and publlc servanLs Lo geL away wlLh corrupL behavlors. ln parLlcular, Lhe medla plays a key role ln exposlng corrupLlon and ralslng general awareness of lLs deLrlmenLal effecL upon socleLy, as well as ln promoLlng lnLegrlLy and accounLablllLy norms,
6 A. M., Andersson L., Cscarsson P., 8eexamlnlng Lhe 8elaLlonshlp 8eLween ress lreedom and CorrupLlon, unlverslLy of CoLhenburg, 2011
ePSIplatform Topic Report No. 2014 / 04 , April 2014 12 Cpen uaLa as a 1ool Lo llghL CorrupLlon
values and pracLlces ln socleLy. 7
AL Lhe same Llme, Lransparency of Lhe medla secLor lLself ls cruclal lf Lrylng Lo undersLand who sLands behlnd lL. 1he Lransparency ln medla ownershlp ls lmporLanL Lo provlde Lhe publlc wlLh sLronger lmmunlLy from corrupL, one-slded or sub[ecLlve medla. ke|evant data about med|a that shou|d be |n a pub||c doma|n 1he key daLa LhaL should be avallable ln relaLlon Lo corrupLlon ln medla ls Lhe medla ownershlp daLa. 1he publlc avallablllLy of accuraLe, comprehenslve, and up-Lo-daLe daLa on medla ownershlp ls an essenLlal componenL of a democraLlc medla sysLem. lL ls lmposslble Lo Lake sLeps Lo address excesslve medla concenLraLlons and conlcLs of lnLeresL wlLhouL Lhe Lools Lo ldenLlfy Lhe owners. ubllc knowledge of owners' ldenLlLles helps Lo ensure LhaL abuses of medla power can be assessed, publlclzed, openly debaLed and even prevenLed. 8
Access lnfo Lurope has released Len recommendaLlons on Lransparency of medla ownershlp 9
LhaL encourages Lransparency of ownershlp of Lhe medla Lhrough dlsclosure Lo a naLlonal medla auLhorlLy and Lo Lhe publlc of essenLlal baslc lnformaLlon, whlch should lnclude aL a mlnlmum: name and conLacL deLalls of Lhe medla ouLleL owned, ConsLlLuLlonal documenLs (vla a web llnk Lo uploaded scans lf necessary), Slze of shareholdlngs over a Lhreshold of 3, name and conLacL deLalls of dlrecL owners wlLh over 3 shareholdlng, ldenLlLy of Lhose wlLh lndlrecL conLrol or a slgnlcanL lnLeresL, over a Lhreshold of 3, ClLlzenshlp/resldence sLaLus of lndlvlduals wlLh over 3 shareholdlng, CounLry of domlclle of company wlLh over 3 shareholdlng, ldenLlLy of beneclal owners where shares are held on behalf of anoLher, e.g. vla brokerage or sllenL ownershlp. ln addlLlon, ln order Lo ldenLlfy poLenLlal sources of lnuence over medla conLenL, lL ls essenLlal LhaL medla companles be requlred Lo publlsh nanclal accounLs and audlL reporLs prepared ln accordance wlLh Lhe hlghesL lnLernaLlonal sLandards, and ln sufclenL deLall Lo
7 U4, Overview of Corruption in the Media in Developing Countries, can be found at: file:///Users/karolis/Downloads/368%20(1).pdf 8 hLLp://www.access-lnfo.org/documenLs/Access_uocs/1MC_8ecommendaLlons_03_november_2013.pdf. 9 http://www.access-info.org/documents/Access_uocs/1MC_8ecommendaLlons_03_november_2013.pdf
ePSIplatform Topic Report No. 2014 / 04 , April 2014 13 Cpen uaLa as a 1ool Lo llghL CorrupLlon
ldenLlfy sources of fundlng. Lxamp|e on re-use of data re|ated to med|a transparency: www.st|rna.|nfo 1ransparency lnLernaLlonal LlLhuanla creaLed www.sLlrna.lnfo LhaL allows LlLhuanlans Lo qulckly and convenlenLly flnd ouL who owns Lhe lnLerneL porLals, newspapers, 1v & radlo sLaLlons and news agencles ln LlLhuanla slnce 1996. noL only LhaL - lL also allows for accesslng vlsuallzed neLworks of how medla and buslness are lnLerllnked ln LlLhuanla. FLG MQ;?R6;;K )JPPQN!?JR 3RS JN6R S3!3 As Lhe World 8ank puLs lL, bllllons ln corrupL asseLs, complex money Lralls, shell companles and oLher spurlous legal sLrucLures. 1hese form Lhe complex web of subLerfuge ln corrupLlon cases, behlnd whlch hldes Lhe uppeL MasLer and beneflclary of lL all. Llnklng Lhe beneflclal owner Lo Lhe proceeds of corrupLlon ls dlfflculL. WlLh slzable wealLh and resources, Lhe corrupL sLay ahead of Lhe game by explolLlng LransnaLlonal consLrucLlons LhaL are hard Lo peneLraLe. lndeed, nearly all cases of grand corrupLlon have one Lhlng ln common. 1hey rely on corporaLe vehlcles - legal sLrucLures such as companles, foundaLlons and LrusLs - Lo conceal ownershlp and conLrol of LalnLed asseLs. 10
ke|evant data about bus|ness that shou|d be |n a pub||c doma|n 1he Cpen uaLa lndex suggesLs LhaL aL leasL Lhe followlng daLa should be ln a publlc domaln: lull name of Lhe company, unlque ldenLlfler no, A llsL of company dlrecLors for each company, SLaLuLory flllngs (e.g. Annual 8eporLs) for each company, SlgnlflcanL shareholdlngs for each company. Lxamp|e of re-use of open data about bus|ness: www.opencorporates.com CpenCorporaLes ls a webslLe whlch shares daLa on corporaLe enLlLles as open daLa under Lhe share-allke aLLrlbuLlon Cpen uaLabase Llcence. lL was launched ln 2010 and lL has Lhe alm of
ePSIplatform Topic Report No. 2014 / 04 , April 2014 14 Cpen uaLa as a 1ool Lo llghL CorrupLlon
creaLlng a u8L wlLh such daLa for every corporaLe enLlLy ln Lhe world, lmporLlng governmenL daLa relaLed Lo companles and maLchlng lL Lo speclflc companles. lL also does vlsuallzaLlons Lo show corporaLe neLworks worldwlde. lL creaLed a sample vlsuallzaLlon 11 based on Lhe daLa for Lhe slx blggesL uS banks, and ln parLlcular showlng Lhe complexlLy of Lhe neLworks by geographlc reglon, and [usL how long Lhe conLrol chalns are. FUG VQS?)?3PWK )JPPQN!?JR 3RS JN6R S3!3 lL ls dlfflculL Lo oversLaLe Lhe negaLlve lmpacL of a corrupL [udlclary: lL erodes Lhe ablllLy of Lhe lnLernaLlonal communlLy Lo Lackle LransnaLlonal crlme and Lerrorlsm, lL dlmlnlshes Lrade, economlc growLh and human developmenL, and, mosL lmporLanLly, lL denles clLlzens lmparLlal seLLlemenL of dlspuLes wlLh nelghbours or Lhe auLhorlLles. When Lhe laLLer occurs, corrupL [udlclarles fracLure and dlvlde communlLles by keeplng allve Lhe sense of ln[ury creaLed by un[usL LreaLmenL and medlaLlon. !udlclal sysLems debased by brlbery undermlne confldence ln governance by faclllLaLlng corrupLlon across all secLors of governmenL, sLarLlng aL Lhe helm of power. ln so dolng Lhey send a blunL message Lo Lhe people: ln Lhls counLry corrupLlon ls LoleraLed". 1ransparency and access Lo [udlclal lnformaLlon ls a prerequlslLe Lo an lncreased [udlclal accounLablllLy worldwlde. 12
ke|evant data about [ud|c|ary that shou|d be ava||ab|e |n a pub||c doma|n uaLa abouL [udges, such as name/surname, courL afflllaLlon, sLarL/end daLes of servlce, [udlclal declslon, blographlcal deLalls, case hlsLory, baslc sLaLlsLlcal lnformaLlon, such as average lengLh of declslon maklng, workload eLc. uaLa abouL courLs, such as name and conLacL deLalls, composlLlon, case schedules, courL declslons, baslc sLaLlsLlcal lnformaLlon, such as Lhe workload eLc. Lxamp|e of re-use of [ud|c|a| data: www.otvorenesudy.sk ln 2013, Lhe CpenCourLs porLal, www.oLvorenesudy.sk, (avallable only ln Slovak and Lhe flrsL open daLa pro[ecL deallng wlLh Lhe [udlclary branch) was launched by 1ransparency lnLernaLlonal Slovakla. lLs maln goal ls Lo make Lhe Slovaklan sysLem more LransparenL and
ePSIplatform Topic Report No. 2014 / 04 , April 2014 15 Cpen uaLa as a 1ool Lo llghL CorrupLlon
allow Lhe publlc Lo conLrol courLs and [udges ln order Lo hold Lhem accounLable. Slnce 2011, a loL of lnformaLlon on courLs and [udges has been made avallable Lhrough reforms almed aL openlng up Lhe [udlclary ln Slovakla. Powever, Lhls daLa was scaLLered LhroughouL several dlfferenL governmenL webslLes and was noL easlly searchable. lor Lhls reason, CpenCourLs collecLs all lnformaLlon LhaL ls relevanL and avallable and offers lL Lo Lhe publlc for free and ln a user-frlendly formaL. FXG NQMO?) JYY?)?3O;K )?Z?O ;6PZ3R!;K )JPPQN!?JR 3RS JN6R S3!3 Any klnd of abuse of enLrusLed power for prlvaLe beneflL can concepLually be caLegorlzed as corrupLlon acL. ln order Lo beLLer undersLand whaL prlvaLe lnLeresLs do publlc offlclals may have and also deLecL posslble un[usL enrlchmenL case, lL ls lmporLanL Lo have access Lo boLh lnLeresLs and asseL declaraLlons. As Lhe Lu reporL on CorrupLlon puLs lL, asseL dlsclosure for offlclals ln senslLlve posLs ls a pracLlce whlch conLrlbuLes Lo consolldaLlng Lhe accounLablllLy of publlc offlclals, ensures enhanced Lransparency and faclllLaLes deLecLlon of poLenLlal cases of llllclL enrlchmenL, confllcLs of lnLeresLs, lncompaLlblllLles, as well as Lhe deLecLlon and lnvesLlgaLlon of poLenLlal corrupL pracLlces. Approaches Lowards asseL dlsclosure wlLhln Lhe Lu for elecLed offlclals range from requlrlng a conslderable amounL of lnformaLlon Lo be dlsclosed Lo more llmlLed dlsclosure or non-dlsclosure pollcles. lor professlonal publlc offlclals ln cerLaln secLors asseL dlsclosure could be a way forward Lo avold lssues of confllcL of lnLeresLs. ln splLe of Lhese dlfferenL approaches, a general Lrend can be noLed Lowards sLrlcLer asseL dlsclosure requlremenLs for publlc offlclals. A few Member SLaLes LhaL LradlLlonally dld noL have asseL dlsclosure reglmes have recenLly lnLroduced or announced Lhe lnLroducLlon of such sysLems. 13
ke|evant data that shou|d be |n a pub||c doma|n (1) Interest and (2) asset dec|arat|ons, where posslble, should be avallable Lo a publlc. noL many counLrles provlde for dlsclosure requlremenL, buL when Lhey do, counLrles should make sure LhaL Lhls daLa ls avallable for publlc scruLlny.
ePSIplatform Topic Report No. 2014 / 04 , April 2014 16 Cpen uaLa as a 1ool Lo llghL CorrupLlon
Lxamp|e of re-use of asset dec|arat|ons data: www.rekv|z|ta|.vz.|t]dek|arac|[os 1he webslLe provldes LlLhuanlans wlLh an easy way Lo search for pollLlclans and see Lhelr asseL declaraLlons vlsuallzed ln a user-frlendly manner. lL also allows comparlng pollLlclans' lncome on a yearly basls and seelng a decrease or growLh ln Lhelr lncome. lL also conLalns pollLlclan's famlly members' asseL declaraLlons and provldes wlLh a basls for lnslghLs for Lhe publlc. F[G OJMMW?RIK )JPPQN!?JR 3RS JN6R S3!3 ln Lhe complex world of publlc pollcy-maklng, lL ls deslrable for publlc admlnlsLraLlons Lo engage ln a conLlnuous dlalogue wlLh ouLslde sLakeholders. All lnLeresLed parLles should be able Lo have Lhelr say, buL Lhls should be done ln a LransparenL way. As lobbylng acLlvlLles can ralse rlsks of corrupLlon and regulaLory capLure, lL ls deslrable Lo have mechanlsms ln place Lo frame such acLlvlLles, be lL Lhrough leglslaLlon or a volunLary reglsLraLlon of lobbylsLs. 1he reglsLry Lhen should be open Lo Lhe publlc Lo scruLlny. Such mechanlsms can help Lo creaLe boLh clarlLy and Lransparency ln Lhe relaLlonshlp beLween publlc auLhorlLles and ouLslde sLakeholders. As such, Lhey can help Lo reduce Lhe rlsk of corrupLlon. So far, Lhls area has been developed ln relaLlvely few Member SLaLes, Lhough some oLher Member SLaLes have leglslaLlon or rules ln Lhe plpellne or are debaLlng Lhe posslblllLy of lnLroduclng new mechanlsms. ke|evant data that shou|d be |n a pub||c doma|n SunllghL loundaLlon's, Cpen knowledge loundaLlon, Access lnfo Lurope and oLher organlzaLlons are currenLly worklng on a lobbylng dlsclosure guldellnes 14 LhaL llsLs ln greaL deLall Lhe lobbylng-relaLed daLa LhaL should be ln a publlc domaln. lL's clusLered around (1) lnformaLlon abouL organlzaLlons LhaL lobby, (2) personal or employmenL lnformaLlon of lobbylsLs, (3) lobbylng ob[ecLlves and cllenLs, (4) lnformaLlon abouL lobbylng conLacLs and (3) lobbylng expendlLures. Lxamp|e of re-use of |obby|ng-re|ated data: http:]]report|ng.sun||ghtfoundat|on.com]|obby|ng]reg|strat|ons 1hls daLabase allows users Lo see lobby reglsLraLlons ln Lhe uS as Lhey're submlLLed, Lo browse
ePSIplatform Topic Report No. 2014 / 04 , April 2014 17 Cpen uaLa as a 1ool Lo llghL CorrupLlon
by lssue, reglsLranL and cllenL, and Lo see Lhe Lrends ln lssues and reglsLraLlons over Llme. 1he daLabase ls updaLed weekly based on SenaLe records and lncludes all reglsLraLlons sLarLlng ln 2009. F\G NQMO?) NPJ)QP6T6R!K )JPPQN!?JR 3RS JN6R S3!3 Clven Lhe level of flnanclal flows generaLed, and a number of oLher facLors, publlc procuremenL ls an area prone Lo corrupL pracLlces. Accordlng Lo 2008 research on publlc procuremenL and corrupLlon, Lhe cosLs added Lo a conLracL as a resulL of corrupL pracLlces may amounL Lo beLween 20 and 23 , and ln some cases even 30 of Lhe LoLal cosL of Lhe conLracLs ln Lhe Lu. As polnLed ouL by Lhe CLCu ln lLs rlnclples for lnLegrlLy ln ubllc rocuremenL, 'weak governance ln publlc procuremenL hlnders markeL compeLlLlon and ralses Lhe prlce pald by Lhe admlnlsLraLlon for goods and servlces, dlrecL lmpacLlng publlc expendlLures and Lherefore Laxpayers' resources. 1he flnanclal lnLeresLs aL sLake, and Lhe close lnLeracLlon beLween Lhe publlc and prlvaLe secLors, make publlc procuremenL a ma[or rlsk area. [.]'. 1ransparency lnslde ouL publlc procuremenL processes ls a prerequlslLe Lo flghLlng corrupLlon ln publlc procuremenL. ke|evant data that shou|d be |n a pub||c doma|n SunllghL loundaLlon has creaLed a seL of deLalled guldellnes 13 Lo help governmenLs undersLand whaL publlc procuremenL relaLed daLa should be ln a publlc domaln. 1he lnformaLlon ls clusLered around (1) Lhe procuremenL process (procuremenL documenLs, bld documenLs, LexLs of conLracLs eLc) and (2) parLlclpanLs ln Lhe procuremenL process (conLracLor performance, conLracL sLaLus, conLracL and enLlLy ldenLlflers eLc.) Lxamp|e of re-use of pub||c procurement data: http:]]tender.sme.sk 1ransparency lnLernaLlonal Slovakla has creaLed a role model pro[ecL based on Slovak publlc procuremenL daLa. vlslLors are able Lo see aggregaLed daLa slnce 2009 from Lhe e- procuremenL publlshlng sysLem. 1hey can explore Lhe lnformaLlon from Lhe angle of buylng organlzaLlon, supplylng company, any level of procuremenL sub[ecL Lype or any oLher
ePSIplatform Topic Report No. 2014 / 04 , April 2014 18 Cpen uaLa as a 1ool Lo llghL CorrupLlon
dlmenslon. lL ls also posslble Lo see all conLracLs wlLhln selecLed sllce of daLa, as well as geL Lhem as raw daLa (CSv for deLalls or aggregaLed daLa) for furLher processlng. 1he conLracL dlmenslons can be fully searched, Lherefore one can flnd for example all procuremenLs of MlnlsLry of uefense ln 2009. 16
L> )JR)OQS?RI P6T3P,; 3RS P6)JTT6RS3!?JR; As demonsLraLed ln Lhls reporL, release and re-use of relevanL publlc secLor lnformaLlon and daLa can have a solld lmpacL on lncreased Lransparency, publlc accounLablllLy and sLrengLhened soclal conLrol. upon release of relevanL lnformaLlon, prerequlslLes are creaLed for reduclng levels of corrupLlon and curblng on bureaucracy. 1hus lL ls lmporLanL LhaL open data po||c|es are c|ose|y ||nked or even |ntegrated w|th ant|corrupt|on po||c|es ln a glven counLry. ln any lnformaLlon and daLa release conversaLlon, open daLa has Lo be provlded ln accordance Lo g|oba||y accepted openness standards, namely, lL has Lo be ln open formaLs, lL has Lo be openly llcensed, lL has Lo be provlded free of charge (where posslble), well-sLrucLured, compleLe and ln a Llmely manner. CovernmenLs ofLen have Lo prlorlLlze daLaseLs Lo be released, as Lhe amounL of daLa and lnformaLlon held by Lhe publlc secLor ls ofLen Loo large ln slze Lo be opened lnsLanLly. Governments shou|d pr|or|t|ze these datasets that are c|a|med to have the h|ghest |mpact upon release and re-use. ub||c accountab|||ty re|ated data shou|d be on the h|ghest pr|or|ty |eve|. As worldwlde pracLlce lndlcaLes, blg parL of Lhe open daLa publlshed ls noL a dlrecL resulL of governmenLal regulaLlon or daLa pollcles. 8esldes creaLlng formal anLlcorrupLlon and open daLa pollcles, governments shou|d assume proact|ve ro|e |n prov|d|ng re|evant data as an lnLegral parL of Lhelr Lransparency and accounLablllLy culLure. CorrupLlon-relevanL open daLa can only have a Langlble lmpacL ln Lerms of publlc accounLablllLy lf lL ls properly re-used. 8esldes provldlng Lhe daLa, governments shou|d
ePSIplatform Topic Report No. 2014 / 04 , April 2014 19 Cpen uaLa as a 1ool Lo llghL CorrupLlon
demonstrate poss|b|e re-use opt|ons and educate externa| stakeho|ders on whaL cerLaln daLaseLs mean. 1hls can be done by way of onllne guldellnes, organlzlng daLa hackaLhons eLc.
ePSIplatform Topic Report No. 2014 / 04 , April 2014 20 Cpen uaLa as a 1ool Lo llghL CorrupLlon
3#'8+ +@% 38+@'/ karolls Cranlckas ls a ro[ecL Leader aL 1ransparency lnLernaLlonal LlLhuanlan ChapLer. Pls focus ls on people engagemenL uslng lC1. Pe coordlnaLes ChapLer's dlglLal lnlLlaLlves such as www.manose|mas.|t (parllamenLary monlLorlng Lool) and www.parasyk[|ems.|t (freedom of lnformaLlon Lool), among oLhers. Pe also acLlvely promoLes open governmenL daLa ln LlLhuanla and has overseen a solld growLh of open daLa communlLy ln LlLhuanla. karolls has LL8 degree ln lnLernaLlonal Law from WesLmlnsLer unlverslLy, London, and LLM degree ln Lu Law from MaasLrlchL unlverslLy, Lhe neLherlands.
)'A-/9E@+ 9*('/<"+9'* 2013 Luropean Sl laLform - 1hls documenL and all maLerlal Lhereln has been complled wlLh greaL care. Powever, Lhe auLhor, edlLor and/or publlsher and/or any parLy wlLhln Lhe Luropean Sl laLform or lLs predecessor pro[ecLs Lhe eSlplus neLwork pro[ecL or eSlneL consorLlum cannoL be held llable ln any way for Lhe consequences of uslng Lhe conLenL of Lhls documenL and/or any maLerlal referenced Lhereln. 1hls reporL has been publlshed under Lhe ausplces of Lhe Luropean ubllc SecLor lnformaLlon laLform.
1he reporL may be reproduced provldlng acknowledgemenL ls made Lo Lhe Luropean ubllc SecLor lnformaLlon (Sl) laLform.