datos abiertos

Open data can transform how we interact with our cities, offering opportunities to improve quality of life. When made publicly available, they enable the development of innovative applications and tools that address urban challenges, from accessibility to road safety and participation.

Real-time information can have positive impacts on citizens. For example, applications that use open data can suggest the most efficient routes, considering factors such as traffic and ongoing construction; information on the accessibility of public spaces can improve mobility for people with disabilities; data on cycling or pedestrian routes encourages greener and healthier modes of transport; and access to urban data can empower citizens to participate in decision-making about their city. In other words, citizen use of open data not only improves the efficiency of the city and its services, but also promotes a more inclusive, sustainable and participatory city.

To illustrate these ideas, this article discusses maps for "navigating" cities, made with open data. In other words, initiatives are shown that improve the relationship between citizens and their urban environment from different aspects such as accessibility, school safety and citizen participation. The first project is Mapcesible, which allows users to map and assess the accessibility of different locations in Spain. The second, Eskola BideApp, a mobile application designed to support safe school routes. And finally, maps that promote transparency and citizen participation in urban management. The first identifies noise pollution, the second locates available services in various areas within 15 minutes and the third displays banks in the city. These maps use a variety of public data sources to provide a detailed overview of different aspects of urban life.

The first initiative is a project of a large foundation, the second a collaborative and local proposal, and the third a personal project. Although they are based on very different approaches, all three have in common the use of public and open data and the vocation to help people understand and experience the city. The variety of origins of these projects indicates that the use of public and open data is not limited to large organisations.

Below is a summary of each project, followed by a comparison and reflection on the use of public and open data in urban environments.

Mapcesible, map for people with reduced mobility

Mapcessible was launched in 2019 to assess the accessibility of various spaces such as shops, public toilets, car parks, accommodation, restaurants, cultural spaces and natural environments.

Figure 1. Mapcesible. Source: https://mapcesible.fundaciontelefonica.com/intro

This project is supported by organizations such as the NGO Spanish Confederation of People with Physical and Organic Disabilities (COCEMFE) and the company ILUNION. It currently has more than 40,000 evaluated accessible spaces and thousands of users.

Figure 2. Mapcesible. Source: https://mapcesible.fundaciontelefonica.com/filters

Mapcesible uses open data as part of its operation. Specifically, the application incorporates fourteen datasets from official bodies, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, city councils of different cities (including Madrid and Barcelona) and regional governments. This open data is combined with information provided by the users of the application, who can map and evaluate the accessibility of the places they visit. This combination of official data and citizen collaboration allows Mapcesible to provide up-to-date and detailed information on the accessibility of various spaces throughout Spain, thus benefiting people with reduced mobility.

Eskola BideAPP, application to define safe school routes.

Eskola BideAPP is an application developed by Montera34 - a team dedicated to data visualisation and the development of collaborative projects - in alliance with the Solasgune Association to support school pathways. Eskola BideAPP has served to ensure that boys and girls can access their schools safely and efficiently. The project mainly uses public data from the OpenStreetMap, e.g. geographical and cartographic data on streets, pavements, crossings, as well as data collected during the process of creating safe routes for children to walk to school in order to promote their autonomy and sustainable mobility.

The application offers an interactive dashboard to visualise the collected data, the generation of paper maps for sessions with students, and the creation of reports for municipal technicians. It uses technologies such as QGIS (a free and open source geographic information system) and a development environment for the R programming language, dedicated to statistical computing and graphics.

The project is divided into three main stages:

1. Data collection through questionnaires in classrooms.
2. Analysis and discussion of results with the children to co-design personalised routes.
3. Testing of the designed routes.

Figure 3. Eskola BideaAPP. Photo by Julián Maguna (Solasgune). Source: https://montera34.com/project/eskola-bideapp/

Pablo Rey, one of the promoters of Montera34 together with Alfonso Sánchez, reports for this article that Eskola BideAPP, since 2019, has been used in eight municipalities, including Derio, Erandio, Galdakao, Gatika, Plentzia, Leioa, Sopela and Bilbao. However, it is currently only operational in the latter two. "The idea is to implement it in Portugalete at the beginning of 2025," he adds.

It''s worth noting the maps from Montera34 that illustrated the effect of Airbnb in San Sebastián and other cities, as well as the data analyses and maps published during the COVID-19 pandemic, which also visualized public data.In addition, Montera34 has used public data to analyse abstention, school segregation, minor contracts or make open data available to the public. For this last project, Montera34 has started with the ordinances of the Bilbao City Council and the minutes of its plenary sessions, so that they are not only available in a PDF document but also in the form of open and accessible data.

Mapas de Madrid sobre contaminación acústica, servicios y ubicación de bancos

Abel Vázquez Montoro has made several maps with open data that are very interesting, for example, the one made with data from the Strategic Noise Map (MER) offered by the Madrid City Council and land registry data. The map shows the noise affecting each building, facade and floor in Madrid.

Figure 4. Noise maps in Madrid. Source: https://madb.netlify.app/.

This map is organised as a dashboard with three sections: general data of the area visible on the map, dynamic 2D and 3D map with configurable options and detailed information on specific buildings. It is an open, free, non-commercial platform that uses free and open source software such as GitLab - a web-based Git repository management platform - and QGIS. The map allows the assessment of compliance with noise regulations and the impact on quality of life, as it also calculates the health risk associated with noise levels, using the attributable risk ratio (AR%).

15-minCity is another interactive map that visualises the concept of the "15-minute city" applied to different urban areas, i.e. it calculates how accessible different services are within a 15-minute walking or cycling radius from any point in the selected city.

Figure 5. 15-minCity. Source: https://whatif.sonycsl.it/15mincity/15min.php?idcity=9166

Finally, "Where to sit in Madrid" is another interactive map that shows the location of benches and other places to sit in public spaces in Madrid, highlighting the differences between rich (generally with more public seating) and poor (with less) neighbourhoods. This map uses the map-making tool, Felt, to visualise and share geospatial information in an accessible way. The map presents different types of seating, including traditional benches, individual seats, bleachers and other types of seating structures.

Figure 6. Where to sit in Madrid. Source: https://felt.com/map/Donde-sentarse-en-Madrid-TJx8NGCpRICRuiAR3R1WKC?loc=40.39689,-3.66392,13.97z

Its maps visualise public data on demographic information (e.g. population data by age, gender and nationality), urban information on land use, buildings and public spaces, socio-economic data (e.g. income, employment and other economic indicators for different districts and neighbourhoods), environmental data, including air quality, green spaces and other related aspects, and mobility data.

What do they have in common?

Figure 7. Comparative table of solutions 

These projects share the approach of using open data to improve access to urban services, although they differ in their specific objectives and in the way information is collected and presented. Mapcesible, Eskola BideApp, MAdB and "Where to sit in Madrid" are of great value.

On the one hand, Mapcesible offers unified and updated information that allows people with disabilities to move around the city and access services. Eskola BideApp involves the community in the design and testing of safe routes for walking to school; this not only improves road safety, but also empowers young people to be active agents in urban planning. In the meantime, 15-min city, MER and the maps developed by Vázquez Montoro visualise complex data about Madrid so that citizens can better understand how their city works and how decisions that affect them are made.

Overall, the value of these projects lies in their ability to create a data culture, teaching how to value, interpret and use information to improve communities.

Content created by Miren Gutiérrez, PhD and researcher at the University of Deusto, expert in data activism, data justice, data literacy, and gender disinformation. The contents and viewpoints reflected in this publication are the sole responsibility of the author.​

On 11, 12 and 13 November, a new edition of DATAforum Justice will be held in Granada. The event will bring together more than 100 speakers to discuss issues related to digital justice systems, artificial intelligence (AI) and the use of data in the judicial ecosystem.The event is organized by the Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Courts, with the collaboration of the University of Granada, the Andalusian Regional Government, the Granada City Council and the Granada Training and Management entity.

The following is a summary of some of the most important aspects of the conference.

An event aimed at a wide audience

This annual forum is aimed at both public and private sector professionals, without neglecting the general public, who want to know more about the digital transformation of justice in our country.

The DATAforum Justice 2024 also has a specific itinerary aimed at students, which aims to provide young people with valuable tools and knowledge in the field of justice and technology. To this end, specific presentations will be given and a DATAthon will be set up. These activities are particularly aimed at students of law, social sciences in general, computer engineering or subjects related to digital transformation. Attendees can obtain up to 2 ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System): one for attending the conference and one for participating in the DATAthon.

Data at the top of the agenda

The Paraninfo of the University of Granada will host experts from the administration, institutions and private companies, who will share their experience with an emphasis on new trends in the sector, the challenges ahead and the opportunities for improvement.

The conference will begin on Monday 11 November at 9:00 a.m., with a welcome to the students and a presentation of DATAthon. The official inauguration, addressed to all audiences, will be at 11:35 a.m. and will be given by Manuel Olmedo Palacios, Secretary of State for Justice, and Pedro Mercado Pacheco, Rector of the University of Granada.

From then on, various talks, debates, interviews, round tables and conferences will take place, including a large number of data-related topics. Among other issues, the data management, both in administrations and in companies, will be discussed in depth. It will also address the use of open data to prevent everything from hoaxes to suicide and sexual violence.

Another major theme will be the possibilities of artificial intelligence for optimising the sector, touching on aspects such as the automation of justice, the making of predictions. It will include presentations of specific use cases, such as the use of AI for the identification of deceased persons, without neglecting issues such as the governance of algorithms.

The event will end on Wednesday 13 at 17:00 hours with the official closing ceremony. On this occasion, Félix Bolaños, Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes, will accompany the Rector of the University of Granada.

A Datathon to solve industry challenges through data

In parallel to this agenda, a DATAthon will be held in which participants will present innovative ideas and projects to improve justice in our society. It is a contest aimed at students, legal and IT professionals, research groups and startups.

Participants will be divided into multidisciplinary teams to propose solutions to a series of challenges, posed by the organisation, using data science oriented technologies. During the first two days, participants will have time to research and develop their original solution. On the third day, they will have to present a proposal to a qualified jury. The prizes will be awarded on the last day, before the closing ceremony and the Spanish wine and concert that will bring the 2024 edition of DATAfórum Justicia to a close.

In the 2023 edition, 35 people participated, divided into 6 teams that solved two case studies with public data and two prizes of 1,000 euros were awarded.

How to register

The registration period for the DATAforum Justice 2024 is now open. This must be done through the event website, indicating whether it is for the general public, public administration staff, private sector professionals or the media.

To participate in the DATAthon it is necessary to register also on the contest site.

Last year's edition, focusing on proposals to increase efficiency and transparency in judicial systems, was a great success, with over 800 registrants. This year again, a large number of people are expected, so we encourage you to book your place as soon as possible. This is a great opportunity to learn first-hand about successful experiences and to exchange views with experts in the sector.

In an increasingly information-driven world, open data is transforming the way we understand and shape our societies. This data are a valuable source of knowledge that also helps to drive research, promote technological advances and improve policy decision-making.

In this context, the Publications Office of the European Union organises the annual EU Open Data Days to highlight the role of open data in European society and all the new developments. The next edition will take place on 19-20 March 2025 at the European Conference Centre Luxembourg (ECCL) and online.

This event, organised by the data.europa.eu, europe's open data portal, will bring together data providers, enthusiasts and users from all over the world, and will be a unique opportunity to explore the potential of open data in various sectors. From success stories to new initiatives, this event is a must for anyone interested in the future of open data.

What are EU Open Data Days?

 EU Open Data Days are an opportunity to exchange ideas and network with others interested in the world of open data and related technologies. This event is particularly aimed at professionals involved in data publishing and reuse, analysis, policy making or academic research.However, it is also open to the general public. After all, these are two days of sharing, learning and contributing to the future of open data in Europe.

What can you expect from EU Open Data Days 2025?

The event programme is designed to cover a wide range of topics that are key to the open data ecosystem, such as:

• Success stories and best practices: real experiences from those at the forefront of data policy in Europe, to learn how open data is being used in different business models and to address the emerging frontiers of artificial intelligence.
• Challenges and solutions: an overview of the challenges of using open data, from the perspective of publishers and users, addressing technical, ethical and legal issues.
• Visualising impact: analysis of how data visualisation is changing the way we communicate complex information and how it can facilitate better decision-making and encourage citizen participation.
• Data literacy: training to acquire new skills to maximise the potential of open data in each area of work or interest of the attendees.

An event open to all sectors

The EU Open Data Days are aimed at a wide audience: the public, the media, the general public and the general public.

• Private sector: data analytics specialists, developers and technology solution providers will be able to learn new techniques and trends, and connect with other professionals in the sector.
• Public sector: policy makers and government officials will discover how open data can be used to improve decision-making, increase transparency and foster innovation in policy design.
• Academia and education: researchers, teachers and students will be able to engage in discussions on how open data is fuelling new research and advances in areas as diverse as social sciences, emerging technologies and economics.
• Journalism and media: Data journalists and communicators will learn how to use data visualisation to tell more powerful and accurate stories, fostering better public understanding of complex issues.

Submit your proposal before 22 October

Would you like to present a paper at the EU Open Data Days 2025? You have until Tuesday 22 October to send your proposal on one of the above-mentioned themes. Papers that address open data or related areas are sought, such as data visualisation or the use of artificial intelligence in conjunction with open data.

The European data portal is looking for inspiring cases that demonstrate the impact of open data use in Europe and beyond. The call is open to participants from all over the world and from all sectors: from international, national and EU public organisations, to academics, journalists and data visualisation experts. Selected projects will be part of the conference programme, and presentations must be made in English.

Proposals should be between 20 and 35 minutes in length, including time for questions and answers. If your proposal is selected, travel and accommodation expenses (one night) will be reimbursed for participants from the academic sector, the public sector and NGOs.

For further details and clarifications, please contact the organising team by email: EU-Open-Data-Days@ec.europa.eu.

• Deadline for submission of proposals: 22 October 2024.
• Notification to selected participants: November 2024.
• Delivery of the draft presentation: 15 January 2025.
• Delivery of the final presentation: 18 February 2025.
• Conference dates: 19-20 March 2025.

The future of open data is now. The EU Open Data Days 2025 will not only be an opportunity to learn about the latest trends and practices in data use, but also to build a stronger and more collaborative community around open data. Registration for the event will open in late autumn 2024, we will announce it through our social media channels on TwitterlinkedIn and Instagram.

Citizen science is consolidating itself as one of the most relevant sources of most relevant sources of reference in contemporary research contemporary research. This is recognised by the Centro Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), which defines citizen science as a methodology and a means for the promotion of scientific culture in which science and citizen participation strategies converge.

We talked some time ago about the importance importance of citizen science in society in society. Today, citizen science projects have not only increased in number, diversity and complexity, but have also driven a significant process of reflection on how citizens can actively contribute to the generation of data and knowledge.

To reach this point, programmes such as Horizon 2020, which explicitly recognised citizen participation in science, have played a key role. More specifically, the chapter "Science with and for society"gave an important boost to this type of initiatives in Europe and also in Spain. In fact, as a result of Spanish participation in this programme, as well as in parallel initiatives, Spanish projects have been increasing in size and connections with international initiatives.

This growing interest in citizen science also translates into concrete policies. An example of this is the current Spanish Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (EECTI), for the period 2021-2027, which includes "the social and economic responsibility of R&D&I through the incorporation of citizen science" which includes "the social and economic responsibility of I through the incorporation of citizen science".

In short, we commented some time agoin short, citizen science initiatives seek to encourage a more democratic sciencethat responds to the interests of all citizens and generates information that can be reused for the benefit of society. Here are some examples of citizen science projects that help collect data whose reuse can have a positive impact on society:

AtmOOs Academic Project: Education and citizen science on air pollution and mobility.

In this programme, Thigis developed a citizen science pilot on mobility and the environment with pupils from a school in Barcelona's Eixample district. This project, which is already replicable in other schoolsconsists of collecting data on student mobility patterns in order to analyse issues related to sustainability.

On the website of AtmOOs Academic you can visualise the results of all the editions that have been carried out annually since the 2017-2018 academic year and show information on the vehicles used by students to go to class or the emissions generated according to school stage.

WildINTEL: Research project on life monitoring in Huelva

The University of Huelva and the State Agency for Scientific Research (CSIC) are collaborating to build a wildlife monitoring system to obtain essential biodiversity variables. To do this, remote data capture photo-trapping cameras and artificial intelligence are used.

The wildINTEL project project focuses on the development of a monitoring system that is scalable and replicable, thus facilitating the efficient collection and management of biodiversity data. This system will incorporate innovative technologies to provide accurate and objective demographic estimates of populations and communities.

Through this project which started in December 2023 and will continue until December 2026, it is expected to provide tools and products to improve the management of biodiversity not only in the province of Huelva but throughout Europe.

IncluScience-Me: Citizen science in the classroom to promote scientific culture and biodiversity conservation.

This citizen science project combining education and biodiversity arises from the need to address scientific research in schools. To do this, students take on the role of a researcher to tackle a real challenge: to track and identify the mammals that live in their immediate environment to help update a distribution map and, therefore, their conservation.

IncluScience-Me was born at the University of Cordoba and, specifically, in the Research Group on Education and Biodiversity Management (Gesbio), and has been made possible thanks to the participation of the University of Castilla-La Mancha and the Research Institute for Hunting Resources of Ciudad Real (IREC), with the collaboration of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology - Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.

The Memory of the Herd: Documentary corpus of pastoral life.

This citizen science project which has been active since July 2023, aims to gather knowledge and experiences from sheperds and retired shepherds about herd management and livestock farming.

The entity responsible for the programme is the Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social, although the Museu Etnogràfic de Ripoll, Institució Milà i Fontanals-CSIC, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Universitat Rovira i Virgili also collaborate.

Through the programme, it helps to interpret the archaeological record and contributes to the preservation of knowledge of pastoral practice. In addition, it values the experience and knowledge of older people, a work that contributes to ending the negative connotation of "old age" in a society that gives priority to "youth", i.e., that they are no longer considered passive subjects but active social subjects.

Plastic Pirates Spain: Study of plastic pollution in European rivers.

It is a citizen science project which has been carried out over the last year with young people between 12 and 18 years of age in the communities of Castilla y León and Catalonia aims to contribute to generating scientific evidence and environmental awareness about plastic waste in rivers.

To this end, groups of young people from different educational centres, associations and youth groups have taken part in sampling campaigns to collect data on the presence of waste and rubbish, mainly plastics and microplastics in riverbanks and water.

In Spain, this project has been coordinated by the BETA Technology Centre of the University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia together with the University of Burgos and the Oxygen Foundation. You can access more information on their website.

Here are some examples of citizen science projects. You can find out more at the Observatory of Citizen Science in Spain an initiative that brings together a wide range of educational resources, reports and other interesting information on citizen science and its impact in Spain. do you know of any other projects? Send it to us at dinamizacion@datos.gob.es and we can publicise it through our dissemination channels.

Data literacy has become a crucial issue in the digital age. This concept refers to the ability of people to understand how data is used, how it is accessed, created, analysed, used or reused, and communicated.

We live in a world where data and algorithms influence everyday decisions and the opportunities people have to live well. Its effect can be felt in areas ranging from advertising and employment provision to criminal justice and social welfare. It is therefore essential to understand how data is generated and used.

Data literacy can involve many areas, but we will focus on its relationship with digital rights on the one hand and Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the other. This article proposes to explore the importance of data literacy for citizenship, addressing its implications for the protection of individual and collective rights and the promotion of a more informed and critical society in a technological context where artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important.

The context of digital rights

More and more studies studies increasingly indicate that effective participation in today's data-driven, algorithm-driven society requires data literacy indicating that effective participation in today's data-driven, algorithm-driven society requires data literacy. Civil rights are increasingly translating into digital rights as our society becomes more dependent on digital technologies and environments digital rights as our society becomes more dependent on digital technologies and environments. This transformation manifests itself in various ways:

• On the one hand, rights recognised in constitutions and human rights declarations are being explicitly adapted to the digital context. For example, freedom of expression now includes freedom of expression online, and the right to privacy extends to the protection of personal data in digital environments. Moreover, some traditional civil rights are being reinterpreted in the digital context. One example of this is the right to equality and non-discrimination, which now includes protection against algorithmic discrimination and against bias in artificial intelligence systems. Another example is the right to education, which now also extends to the right to digital education. The importance of digital skills in society is recognised in several legal frameworks and documents, both at national and international level, such as the Organic Law 3/2018 on Personal Data Protection and Guarantee of Digital Rights (LOPDGDD) in Spain. Finally, the right of access to the internet is increasingly seen as a fundamental right, similar to access to other basic services.
• On the other hand, rights are emerging that address challenges unique to the digital world, such as the right to be forgotten (in force in the European Union and some other countries that have adopted similar legislation¹), which allows individuals to request the removal of personal information available online, under certain conditions. Another example is the right to digital disconnection (in force in several countries, mainly in Europe²), which ensures that workers can disconnect from work devices and communications outside working hours. Similarly, there is a right to net neutrality to ensure equal access to online content without discrimination by service providers, a right that is also established in several countries and regions, although its implementation and scope may vary. The EU has regulations that protect net neutrality, including Regulation 2015/2120, which establishes rules to safeguard open internet access. The Spanish Data Protection Act provides for the obligation of Internet providers to provide a transparent offer of services without discrimination on technical or economic grounds. Furthermore, the right of access to the internet - related to net neutrality - is recognised as a human right by the United Nations (UN).

This transformation of rights reflects the growing importance of digital technologies in all aspects of our lives.

The context of artificial intelligence

The relationship between AI development and data is fundamental and symbiotic, as data serves as the basis for AI development in a number of ways:

1. Data is used to train AI algorithms, enabling them to learn, detect patterns, make predictions and improve their performance over time.
2. The quality and quantity of data directly affect the accuracy and reliability of AI systems. In general, more diverse and complete datasets lead to better performing AI models.
3. The availability of data in various domains can enable the development of AI systems for different use cases.

Data literacy has therefore become increasingly crucial in the AI era, as it forms the basis for effectively harnessing and understanding AI technologies.

In addition, the rise of big data and algorithms has transformed the mechanisms of participation, presenting both challenges and opportunities. Algorithms, while they may be designed to be fair, often reflect the biases of their creators or the data they are trained on. This can lead to decisions that negatively affect vulnerable groups.

In this regard, legislative and academic efforts are being made to prevent this from happening. For example, the EuropeanArtificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) includes safeguards to avoid harmful biases in algorithmic decision-making. For example, it classifies AI systems according to their level of potential risk and imposes stricter requirements on high-risk systems. In addition, it requires the use of high quality data to train the algorithms, minimising bias, and provides for detailed documentation of the development and operation of the systems, allowing for audits and evaluations with human oversight. It also strengthens the rights of persons affected by AI decisions, including the right to challenge decisions made and their explainability, allowing affected persons to understand how a decision was reached.

The importance of digital literacy in both contexts

Data literacy helps citizens make informed decisions and understand the full implications of their digital rights, which are also considered, in many respects, as mentioned above, to be universal civil rights. In this context, data literacy serves as a critical filter for full civic participation that enables citizens to influence political and social decisions full civic participation that enables citizens to influence political and social decisions. That is,those who have access to data and the skills and tools to navigate the data infrastructure effectively can intervene and influencepolitical and social processes in a meaningful way , something which promotes the Open Government Partnership.

On the other hand, data literacy enables citizens to question and understand these processes, fostering a culture of accountability and transparency in the use of AI.  There arealso barriers to participation in data-driven environments. One of these barriers is the digital divide (i.e. deprivation of access to infrastructure, connectivity and training, among others) and, indeed, lack of data literacy. The latter is therefore a crucial concept for overcoming the challenges posed by datification datification of human relations and the platformisation of content and services.

Recommendations for implementing a preparedness partnership

Part of the solution to addressing the challenges posed by the development of digital technology is to include data literacy in educational curricula from an early age.

This should cover:

• Data basics: understanding what data is, how it is collected and used.
• Critical analysis: acquisition of the skills to evaluate the quality and source of data and to identify biases in the information presented. It seeks to recognise the potential biases that data may contain and that may occur in the processing of such data, and to build capacity to act in favour of open data and its use for the common good.
• Rights and regulations: information on data protection rights and how European laws affect the use of AI. This area would cover all current and future regulation affecting the use of data and its implication for technology such as AI.
• Practical applications: the possibility of creating, using and reusing open data available on portals provided by governments and public administrations, thus generating projects and opportunities that allow people to work with real data, promoting active, contextualised and continuous learning.

By educating about the use and interpretation of data, it fosters a more critical society that is able to demand accountability in the use of AI. New data protection laws in Europe provide a framework that, together with education, can help mitigate the risks associated with algorithmic abuse and promote ethical use of technology. In a data-driven society, where data plays a central role, there is a need to foster data literacy in citizens from an early age.

¹The right to be forgotten was first established in May 2014 following a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union. Subsequently, in 2018, it was reinforced with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)which explicitly includes it in its Article 17 as a "right of erasure". In July 2015, Russia passed a law allowing citizens to request the removal of links on Russian search engines if the information"violates Russian law or if it is false or outdated". Turkey has established its own version of the right to be forgotten, following a similar model to that of the EU. Serbia has also implemented a version of the right to be forgotten in its legislation. In Spain, the Ley Orgánica de Protección de Datos Personales (LOPD) regulates the right to be forgotten, especially with regard to debt collection files. In the United Statesthe right to be forgotten is considered incompatible with the Constitution, mainly because of the strong protection of freedom of expression. However, there are some related regulations, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970, which allows in certain situations the deletion of old or outdated information in credit reports.

Content prepared by Miren Gutiérrez, PhD and researcher at the University of Deusto, expert in data activism, data justice, data literacy and gender disinformation. The contents and views reflected in this publication are the sole responsibility of the author.

Coopdevs is an open cooperative that aims to improve society through technology, its values are framed within open cooperativism, that is, they focus on providing value both to customers or projects in which they participate as well as to a much broader ecosystem of digital commons. 
 

The Basque Government announces the fifth edition of the awards for the best open data reuse projects in the Basque Country. An initiative that was created with the aim of rewarding the best ideas and applications/services created from the open data catalogue of the Basque Country (Open Data Euskadi) to show its potential and promote open data culture.

As in previous editions, there are two types of prizes: an ideas competition and an applications competition. In the first, a sum of 13,500 euros in prize money will be awarded. In the second, the prize money amounts to €21,000.

Below are the details of the call for proposals for each of the modalities:

Competition of ideas

Proposals for services, studies, visualisations and applications (web and mobile) that reuse open datasets from the Open Data Euskadi portal to provide value to society will be evaluated. Ideas may be of general utility or focus on one of two sectors: health and social or environment and sustainability.

• Who is it aimed at? To all those people or companies from inside and outside the Basque Country who wish to present ideas and projects for the reuse of open data from the Basque Country. This modality does not require technical knowledge of programming or computer development.
• How can you take part? It will be necessary to explain the idea in a text document and attach it when registering. Registration can be done either online or in person.
• What prizes are on offer?  Two winning projects will be chosen for each category, which will be divided into a first prize of 3,000 euros and a second prize of 1,500 euros. In other words, in summary, the awards are:

• Health and social category
  • First prize: €3,000
  • Second prize: €1,500

• Environment and sustainability category
  • First prize: €3,000
  • Second prize: €1,500

• General category
  • First prize: €3,000
  • Second prize: €1,500

Here you can read the rules of the Open Data Euskadi ideas competition: https://www.euskadi.eus/servicios/1028505

Application competition

This modality does require some technical knowledge of programming or computer development, asalready developed solutions using Open Data Euskadi open datasets must bepresented . Applications may be submitted in the general category or in the specific category of web services.

• Who is it aimed at? To those people or companies capable of creating services, studies, visualisations, web applications or applications for mobile devices that use at least one set of open data from one of the Basque Country's open data catalogues.
• How can you take part? The project must be explained in a text document and the developed project (service, study, visualisation, web or mobile application) must be accessible via a URL. At registering both the explanatory document and the URL of the project will be attached. 
• What prizes are on offer? This category offers a single prize of 8,000 euros for the web services category and two prizes for the general category of 8,000 and 5,000 euros.
  

  • Category web services

    • Only one prize: €8,000
  •  General category
    • First prize: €8,000
    • Second prize: €5,000

Check here the rules of the competition in application development mode: https://www.euskadi.eus/servicios/1028605

Deadline for registration:

The competition has been accepting proposals since 31 July and closes on 10 October. Follow us on social media so you don't miss any news about open data reuse events and competitions: @datosgob

Take part!

The Junta de Castilla y León has just launched a new edition of its open data competition. In doing so, it seeks to recognise the implementation of projects using datasets from its Open Data Portal. The call for applications will be open until the end of September, so you can take advantage of the remaining weeks of summer to submit your application.

What does the competition consist of?

The objective of the 8th Open Data Competition is to recognise the implementation of projects using open data in four categories:

• Ideas" category: participants will have to describe an idea to create studies, services, websites or applications for mobile devices.
• Products and Services" category: studies, services, websites or applications for mobile devices, which must be accessible to all citizens via the web through a URL, will be awarded.
• Didactic Resource" category: consists of the creation of new and innovative open didactic resources to support classroom teaching. These resources must be published under Creative Commons licences.
• Category "Data Journalism": Journalistic pieces published or updated (in a relevant way) in both written and audiovisual media are sought.

All categories have one thing in common: the project must use at least one dataset from the Junta de Castilla y León's Open Data portal. These datasets can be combined, if the authors so wish, with other data sources, private or public, from any level of administration.

Who can participate?

The competition is open to any natural or legal person who has carried out a project and meets the requirements of each category. Neither public administrations nor those persons who have collaborated directly or indirectly in the preparation of the regulatory bases and the call for applications may participate.

You can participate as an individual or in a group. In addition, the same person may submit more than one application for the same or different categories. The same project can also be submitted in several categories, although it can only be awarded in one category.

What do the prizes consist of?

A jury will evaluate the proposals received on the basis of a series of requirements, including their usefulness, economic value, originality, quality, etc. Once all the projects have been evaluated, a number of winners will be announced, who will receive a diploma, open data consultancy and the following prize money :

1. Category Ideas.
   • First prize €1,500.
   • Second prize 500€.
2. Category Products and services. In this case, a special award for students has also been created, aimed at people enrolled in the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 academic years, both in university and non-university education, provided that it is official.
   • First prize €2,500.
   • Second prize: €1,500.
   • Third prize: €500.
   • Student Prize: €1,500.
3. Category Educational resource.
   • First prize: €1,500.
4. Category Data Journalism.
   • First prize: €1,500.
   • Second prize : €1,000.

In addition, the winning entries will be disseminated and promoted through the Open Data Portal of Castilla y León and other media of the Administration.

What are the deadlines?

The deadline for receiving applications opened on 23 July 2024, one day after the publication of the rules in the Official Gazette of Castilla y León.  Participants will have until 23 September 2024 to submit their applications.

How can I participate?

Applications can be submitted in person or electronically.

• In person: at the General Registry of the Regional Ministry of the Presidency , the Registry Assistance Offices of the Regional Government of Castilla y León or at any of the places established in article 16.4 of Law 39/2015.

• Electronic: through the electronic office.

Applications should include information on:

• Author(s) of the project.
• Project title.
• Category or categories for which you are applying.
• Project report, with a maximum length of 1,000 words.

You have all the detailed information at the website, where the competition rules are included.

With this new edition, the Castilla y León Data Portal reaffirms its commitment not only to the publication of open data, but also to the promotion of its reuse. Such actions are a showcase to promote examples of the use of open data in different fields. You can see last year's winning projects in this article.

Come and take part!

The Island Council of Tenerife announces two competitions to to recognise projects that use data from the open data portal datos.tenerife.es.

The 'I Open Data Competition: Reuse Ideaswill reward ideas that use at least one open dataset from the portal. These projects may consist of studies, services, educational resources or applications. It should be noted that this is a first Ideas competition for which it will not be necessary to develop the project or application, it is only necessary to explain the idea. The format shall be digital, with a minimum of 5,000 characters. Among the requirements established is that they must explain the problem they are solving, how it is solved, what data sets they use, what the target audience of their proposal would be and on what platform it would be developed (web, mobile...), among others. 

On the other hand, following this first competition, and based on the same objectives, the Cabildo will hold a second edition, "II Concurso Datos Abiertos Cabildo de Tenerife: App development". This will be a second phase of this open data reuse process, in which the development of an APP (an application) that reuses open data will be rewarded.   

Below, we review the key points of the call for the 1st Open Data Competition: Reuse Ideas.

What does this involve?

The Cabildo de Tenerife wants to recognise the presentation of ideas and highlight proposals that reflect possible study projects, services, educational resources, websites or applications for mobile devices that use datasets from the Open Data portal of the Cabildo de Tenerife and other bodies. These projects must show the economic and social benefit of open data.

Who can participate?

 Both natural and legal personsmay participate, with the exception of public administrations, entities dependent on them and those natural or legal persons who have participated directly or indirectly in the call for proposals and the development of the portal. Participants in the competition must be up to date with their tax obligations. The same person, whether natural or legal, may submit as many applications as they wish, either individually or jointly.

What is the prize?

The Cabildo has announced that it will award prizes totalling 6,000 euros, divided into a first prize of 3,000 euros, a second prize of 2,000 euros and a third prize of 1,000 euros. The prizes will be announced through the usual channels of the Cabildo de Tenerife and on the portal datos.tenerife.es. 

How can you take part?

Proposals may be submitted electronically or in person. In both cases, the participant must provide the following documentation:

• Request
• Proposal in digital format
• National Identity Number
• Certificate of being up to date in the fulfilment of obligations with the State Tax Administration
• Certificate of being up to date in the fulfilment of obligations with the Canary Islands Tax Authorities
• Certificate of being in good standing with the Cabildo of Tenerife
• Certificate of being up to date with Social Security obligations

 Online participation will be done through the electronic site, available here: https://sede.tenerife.es/es/personal/#!/presentacion/iniciar?procedimientoId=3048441

On the other hand, for face-to-face processing in person the form must be filled in, printed out and handed in at any citizens' service centre any citizen service centre. 

What is the application deadline?

The Cabildo of Tenerife has set a deadline of three months from the publication of the rules on 23 July, so that proposals can be submitted until 23 October 2024.

Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria include the viability of the proposed idea, the quality of the presentation, its public utility and social value, its originality, creativity and innovative character, and its potential to generate business and obtain economic profitability, as well as the possibility of generating employment.

With this competition, the Cabildo de Tenerife pursues the dual objective of disseminating open data and promoting its reuse.

You can find more information at the website of the call for proposals.