HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle
Expand

Prying Open Government: The Sunlight Foundation's Fight for Transparency

Views:899
@ReasonVids

"We live in a world of big data," says Chris Gates, director of the Sunlight Foundation. "And people talk about big data all the time. But until data is actually sorted in a way that makes sense – and truly open, so that people can have access to it – the fact that we're surrounded by data doesn't change much."

Before the digital age, accessing public records on goverment officials was often a tedious and impractical chore, even for skilled investigators. The Sunlight Foundation was started nine years ago to leverage web sotfware and public disclosure requirements to turn vast amounts of raw data into user-friendly, searchable databases. The non-partisan, non-profit organization's powerful tools like OpenCongress and Foreign Lobbying Influence Tracker allow the public to track the flow of political money and map the nexus of influence in Washington like never before.

Gates sat down with Reason TV's Todd Krainin to discuss how technology keeps goverment transparent. Whether it's finding a comprehensive list of President Obama's deleted tweets, or discovering who the Dalai Lama met on his recent trip to Washington, D.C., or even which politicians used hackneyed phrases like "do it for the children", detailed information about government is only a few clicks away.

Although the Sunlight Foundation makes the most of transparency requirements, Gates reminds us that the government still doesn't share everything they should. When politicians find creative ways to evade disclosure requirements, it can be difficult to hold them accountable.

Runs 8:43 minutes.

Produced by Meredith Bragg. Interview by Todd Krainin. Cameras by Bragg.

Go to http://reason.com/reasontv/2015/04/30/sunlight-foundation for downloadable versions and subscribe to ReasonTV's YouTube Channel to receive notifications when new material goes live

sunlight foundation (nonprofit organization)
,
transparency
,
presidency of barack obama (literature subject)
,
united states congress (governmental body)
,
chris gates
,
christopher gates
,
reason magazine
,
libertarian
    Thumbnail for Open the Borders—to Trade and to People!3:47
    Open the Borders—to Trade and to People!
    ReasonVids
    1045 views
    Thumbnail for Russ Roberts: Adam Smith's Surprising Guide to Happiness (But Not Wealth)1:00:31
    Russ Roberts: Adam Smith's Surprising Guide to Happiness (But Not Wealth)
    ReasonVids
    828 views
    Thumbnail for Remy: Best Song Ever! (One Direction Parody - Tax Code Edition)1:55
    Remy: Best Song Ever! (One Direction Parody - Tax Code Edition)
    ReasonVids
    980 views
    Thumbnail for Let's introduce some chaos.5:03
    Let's introduce some chaos.
    bestofvoatxyz
    503 views
    Thumbnail for PayPal Stock TANKS After INSANE Social Credit System BACKFIRED, PayPal Claims It Was An Error21:49
    PayPal Stock TANKS After INSANE Social Credit System BACKFIRED, PayPal Claims It Was An Error
    bestofsaidit
    946 views
    Thumbnail for Spinning is the Best0:07
    Spinning is the Best
    bestofvoatxyz
    745 views
    Thumbnail for LA looks like a zombie apocalypse and we're giving $14 Billion to foreign governments?4:39
    LA looks like a zombie apocalypse and we're giving $14 Billion to foreign governments?
    AbolishTheDraft
    541 views
    Thumbnail for H.R.5736 - Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 20121:44
    H.R.5736 - Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012
    bestofupgoat
    425 views
    Thumbnail for EL DIRECTO NO TERMINA HASTA COMPLETAR LA TORRE DEL ESPACIO INFINITA CUSTOM ZOMBIES | COD ZOMBIES1:00
    EL DIRECTO NO TERMINA HASTA COMPLETAR LA TORRE DEL ESPACIO INFINITA CUSTOM ZOMBIES | COD ZOMBIES
    invidious
    176 views
    Thumbnail for Where Are the Female Libertarians? Allison Gibbs on the Ladies of Liberty Alliance5:45
    Where Are the Female Libertarians? Allison Gibbs on the Ladies of Liberty Alliance
    ReasonVids
    978 views
    Thumbnail for "Shut Up. You Don't Get a Lawyer!": The Defense Authorization Act Guts Civil Liberties5:06
    "Shut Up. You Don't Get a Lawyer!": The Defense Authorization Act Guts Civil Liberties
    ReasonVids
    848 views
    Thumbnail for 🔴Live EURUSD & GBPUSD Signals | Free 5m Chart EUR USD GBP USD Forex Trading Analysis & Prediction | Infinity Algo1:00
    🔴Live EURUSD & GBPUSD Signals | Free 5m Chart EUR USD GBP USD Forex Trading Analysis & Prediction | Infinity Algo
    invidious
    197 views
    Thumbnail for Niggertuber sexually harrasses teenage employee 0:15
    Niggertuber sexually harrasses teenage employee
    bestofvoatxyz
    1015 views
    Thumbnail for Eating foods by their literal names for the entire day! (Part 3) | Godfrey Twins0:39
    Eating foods by their literal names for the entire day! (Part 3) | Godfrey Twins
    invidious
    68 views
    Thumbnail for oldie but a goldie1:20
    oldie but a goldie
    bestofupgoat
    141 views
    Thumbnail for Pajeet trucker driving Britbong style.0:13
    Pajeet trucker driving Britbong style.
    bestofupgoat
    492 views
    Thumbnail for Remy: I Saw Daddy Pat Down Santa Claus (A Very TSA Christmas Song)1:14
    Remy: I Saw Daddy Pat Down Santa Claus (A Very TSA Christmas Song)
    ReasonVids
    880 views
    Thumbnail for I Built a Shortcut That is Impossible to Find! | kAN Gaming12:35
    I Built a Shortcut That is Impossible to Find! | kAN Gaming
    invidious
    354 views
    Thumbnail for Good boy 1:00
    Good boy
    bestofupgoat
    232 views
    Thumbnail for 8th Pay Commission:  8वें वेतन आयोग के बाद कितनी बढ़ेगी आपकी सैलरी, जान लीजिए पूरा गणित | Money941:08
    8th Pay Commission: 8वें वेतन आयोग के बाद कितनी बढ़ेगी आपकी सैलरी, जान लीजिए पूरा गणित | Money9
    invidious
    125 views
    Thumbnail for 5 Ways Elon Musk and Other Billionaires Get Welfare for the Rich4:19
    5 Ways Elon Musk and Other Billionaires Get Welfare for the Rich
    ReasonVids
    911 views
    Thumbnail for Can You Fix the World with $75 Billion? Bjorn Lomborg has some really good ideas.38:02
    Can You Fix the World with $75 Billion? Bjorn Lomborg has some really good ideas.
    ReasonVids
    885 views
    Thumbnail for What We Saw at the 'One Nation Working Together Rally'3:33
    What We Saw at the 'One Nation Working Together Rally'
    ReasonVids
    904 views

points

Permalink
Reply
sunlight foundation (nonprofit organization)
,
transparency
,
presidency of barack obama (literature subject)
,
united states congress (governmental body)
,
chris gates
,
christopher gates
,
reason magazine
,
libertarian
TOS  •  Add Keywords  •  Donate  •   Analytics  •   DMCA  •   Puzzle