The Linked Open Data Project started just four years ago in 2007. In that short time
Linked Data has grown into an almost mainstream activity for many governments
around the world. As of this writing, the US Government’s open data site listed
twenty one countries whose governments publish open data regarding the operations
of their public sector, with roughly one third of them publishing Linked Data using
the data standards of theWorldWideWeb Consortium1. Those numbers show every
sign of increasing in the immediate future.
TheWorldWideWeb of 2011 is a mature and trusted information system, allowing
its broad adoption even by laggards. As an information system owned by no one
and yet open to vendors, governments and private citizens, the Web has become a
natural place to publish information for public dissemination. The wide availability
of Web clients, be they on mobile phones, laptop or desktop computers, tablets or
game consoles, and the provision of public access services (especially by libraries)
has made publication on theWeb a preferred way for governments to empower their
citizenry, or at least pretend to do so.
The Web is mature, and yet ever changing. The use of the Web to facilitate clean
and uncorrupt government is likewise both viable now and capable of so much more
in the future. It is our privilege to be a part of that change. We hope the information
presented in this book can assist readers to join us.
The uptake of open data publication in general and Linked Data approaches in
specific has mirrored interest by the public in governmental transparency. Some
activists, such as the non-profits Sunlight Foundation2 and Transparency International3,
aim to foster governmental fairness and reduce opportunities for corruption,
nepotism and other illegal activities. Although the thesis that governmental transparency
initiatives will assist those goals has yet to be proven, Sunlight Foundation
in particular has embraced the publication of governmental information on theWeb.