Data analytics usage
Dear West Lindsey District Council,
We are submitting the following Freedom of Information Request for documents relating to uses of data analytics, predictive analytics, or algorithmic automated systems used for risk assessment, scoring systems or automated decision making within the jurisdiction of your authority. This could include the use of these data systems in order to draw insights from large and integrated datasets, or to influence decisions about resources, funding or service delivery. This could include, but may not be limited to, uses of predictive analytics in child welfare, health care, adult social care, fraud detection, or policing.
Specifically, we are requesting:
· Any briefing notes, reports, evaluations, or summaries concerning uses of algorithmically driven data systems. Ideally this would include information about software, hardware, operations and types of data
· Any overviews about how system outputs are produced.
· Any training manuals or materials (e.g. slides, etc.) for staff about data collection, analysis, assessment and reporting as related to the use of the systems.
. Any impact assessments
· Any data visualisation outputs connected to the systems.
· Any promotional material, presentation material, or staff educational material related to the systems.
. Any contracts relating to the systems. We argue that the release of contracts does not compromise commercial sensitivity. The full argument is provided below.*
Also, please note we are not requesting datasets or any data about individuals.
Please let us know if any information requires clarifying.
We would like to receive electronic copies of this information.
All the very best,
Data Justice Lab
Please note that we are following the Information Commissioner’s guidance on the Freedom of Information Act which specifies that requests can be made by organisations and there is no need for a named individual (pages 9-10, sections 38-39).
Source: https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisatio...
*Addressing the commercial sensitivity question:
a) Section 20 of the Department for Communities and Local Government’s ‘Local Government Transparency Code 2015’, which encourages greater transparency in the public interest, notes:
‘The Government has not seen any evidence that publishing details about contracts entered into by local authorities would prejudice procurement exercises or the interests of commercial organisations, or breach commercial confidentiality unless specific confidentiality clauses are included in contracts. Local authorities should expect to publish details of contracts newly entered into – commercial confidentiality should not, in itself, be a reason for local authorities to not follow the provisions of this Code’.
Source: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk... (page 9, section 20)
b) There is always the potential for a company in any area to act in bad faith, but this should not be a reason to deny access to information about how public money is spent.
c) Contract and tendering details are provided regularly by a range of government bodies in the public interest. For example, many police and fire services release contractual information through the Bluelight database ( https://www.blpd.gov.uk/foi/foi.aspx ).
d) There may be core aspects of the systems contracted that have competitive commercial value and we appreciate that such details will be redacted from any documents released. We argue that commercial interests will not be compromised by revealing other details that may be provided in contracts or related communications with contracted companies. Details that could be released include details about the existence of a system, it's purpose, the tasks being contracted, continued relationships, general descriptions, types of data being used, how this data is shared.
Dear Data Justice Lab
Thank you for your request for information received on 20/07/2018.
Your request is now being considered and you will receive the information
within the statutory 20 working days as defined by the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, subject to the information not being exempt or
containing a reference to a third party.
Please note that the response time to this request will expire on
17/08/2018
Yours sincerely
FOI Office
West Lindsey District Council
Guildhall
Marshall's Yard
Gainsborough
Lincolnshire
DN21 2NA
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References
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1. https://www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/privacy/
Dear Data Justice Lab,
Please find attached response to your Freedom of Information request.
Yours sincerely,
FOI Team
West Lindsey District Council
Guildhall
Marshalls Yard
Gainsborough
Lincs
DN21 2NA
****Your Data **** The law has changed, please read our new [1]privacy
notice .
*** DISCLAIMER **** The information transmitted is intended only for the
person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential
and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or
other use, or taking of any action in reliance upon this information by
persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If
you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the
material from your computer. Any correspondence with the sender will be
subject to automatic monitoring.
References
Visible links
1. https://www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/privacy/
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