Public Data Publication

The prime minister appointed ministry data administrators, responsible for developing the ministry strategy for data, algorithms and source codes, and for coordinating stakeholders within each ministry. There are data administrators in 17 ministries, and one in the prime minister’s cabinet.[2]

A series of dedicated committees have been established and are led by the Etalab department:[3]

–    Inter-ministry councils of the chief data officers of each ministry (Comité interministériel des administrateurs des données, CIAD), held every six months. These meetings were institutionalised in the prime-ministerial circular of 27 April 2021 on data, algorithms and source code policy[4]

–    Quarterly steering committees

–    Regular bilateral exchanges between ministries

Etalab has published different guides on producing, collecting and using data, software source code or algorithms.[5] These refer, for example, to Article 119 of the Data Protection Act. Two of the guides are aimed at public institutions.[6]

–   Etalab is also developing a civil servants training package, but this will not be available before the end of 2022.[7] It has organised thematic exchange workshops with public agents and administrations on data quality, reuse and availability.[8]

–   Etalab is organising events on public algorithms to create a consolidated registry across ministries.[9] For instance, DINUM participated in six workshops to define and implement its policy for publishing some of its source codes.[10] DINUM has also organised several hackathons with other ministries or administrations – for instance, two editions of #dataFin on local finances (with the Cour des Comptes).[11] However, according to the OGP Independent Reporting Mechanism (IRM) report, feedback from participants of the #datafin event indicated that there could have been more citizens and data scientists present.[12]

–    There is no public evidence of a study day having been organised.

–    France contributes to the European Open Data Maturity Index, which assesses the impact of published data (strategic awareness, and political, social, environmental and economic impact).[13]

–    France is involved in an international OGP working group, “Open Algorithms”.[14]

Etalab has published a guide to help the administration produce monographs of algorithms.[15] So far, these monographs have not been produced.

In September 2021, the ministerial roadmaps on data, algorithms and source code policy were published. Among the general objectives of enhancing data quality, availability, infrastructure and use in public policy decision-making, the main aim is to consolidate data across administrations and make it available.[16]

Etalab published a guide to help administrations to open public-sector source codes and on using public algorithms (version 2 in 2020).[17]

Etalab confirmed that no hackathons dedicated to public algorithms have yet been organised.[18]

The Etalab department of the DINUM works together with the association OpenDataFrance[19] and the National Agency for Territorial Cohesion (Agence nationale de la cohésion des territoires, ANCT) to help local governments open their data and conform to legal obligations. The ANCT is the public body in charge of coordinating cooperation between the central government and local authorities in the field of open government data.[20] Numerous educational and methodological resources were made available on the platform OSMOSE. This platform allows all state actors to coordinate a professional community online.[21]

According to the OGP 7 IRM evaluation,[22] few efforts were made to provide training or build capacities at local level. Further research shows that this was still the case in December 2021. As part of the Digital transformation of territories programme (Transformation numérique des territoires, TNT), a survey was launched among local elected officials to identify their training needs,[23] indicating that the training programme is only at its inception phase.

A series of data standards and schemas for local government have been developed by OpenDataFrance and Etalab as part of the “common local database” (Socle commun des données locales). The schemas aimed towards local governments are provided on the national platform schema.data.gouv.fr, operated by Etalab.[25] Each schema goes through an open investigation and construction phase before official publication. Discussions take place on GitHub and are accessible to the public.[26]

–    Local authorities publishing information in open data format (number, type, geographic distribution)

–    Sets of open data (e.g. number, date, theme, access conditions)

–    Publication platforms (e.g. number, type, technical solutions)

–    Uses (reuse, traffic)

–    Local area coordination (stimulation of reuse and support options for local authorities)

A community open data observatory – a website providing analyses and information on the progress made by local governments towards opening up their data – was launched in 2018.[27] It publishes data annually, such as the number of local governments providing open datasets or the types of platforms used to share data. By December 2021, 715 local governments had opened up their data (21 per cent more than 2020).[28] The observatory publishes data on open data communities, datasets available, publication platforms, uses and territorial animation.[29]

The challenges to this commitment are the lack of technical and human resources available within the French administration. For example, a recent report points out the need for 400 new data specialist positions by 2023 in ministries and statistical services (2,000 such posts already exist).[32]

According to Etalab, the Covid-19 pandemic hindered the organisation of events and overall community animation activities. Although it brought visibility to the initiatives in the field of open data, the pandemic underlined the need for a strengthened data policy and an inter-ministry coordination mechanism.[33]

In December 2020, the public report “For a public data policy”, was released to assess the current national policy regarding data management in the French administration, and make both practical and structural recommendations.[35]

European initiatives on data impact, similar to the Open Data Maturity Index, are in place and will be an opportunity for DINUM to learn from other leading countries.[36] At the OECD level, France contributes to the OURdata index on open government data, as well as the Digital Government Index.[37] According to Etalab in 2022, the OECD survey on open government data has been completed by participating countries, and the results of the survey will offer an opportunity to share best practices.[38]

• Follow up on the 12 recommendations from the DNUM/INSEE report on human resources – in particular, the recommendations to train existing senior managers, enlarge the recruitment field for data-oriented civil servants and provide attractive salaries.[39]
• Ensure that the publication of data, source codes and algorithms remains a priority in the national digital transition strategy.
• Ensure Etalab builds a consolidated registry for sources codes and algorithms published by French administrations.
• Provide safeguards to ensure individual data privacy when making administration datahubs for individual data, and organise debates with civil society to help address concerns over the use of algorithms in citizens’ daily life, in particular involving mass surveillance.[40]