Savvy Citizens: Citizenship

Citizenship – Topic Round-Up

By Savvy Citizens Team | Published: April 9, 2010

citizenshipesectionAs the Citizenship topic draws to an end we have highlighted some of the key issues we have been discussing over the last six weeks.

On the 11 March BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT hosted a panel debate, which focused on the topic ‘Will the internet determine the outcome of the next general election?’  A high profile panel including Elizabeth Sparrow, President of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, Paul Staines, Derek Wyatt MP, Lib Dem blogger Mark Thompson and Hillary Clinton’s former web strategist Jag Singh, discussed a number of topics, most notably the issue of digital inclusion.  A video of the debate is available to view here. Read full article

Savvy Citizens FOI Request: Followup

By Savvy Citizens Team | Published: April 8, 2010

foi2Andrew from the Savvy Citizens team recently made a Freedom of Information request about some roadworks undertaken by his council. He used WhatDoTheyKnow and received a response. In this video he talks about it: Read full article

DirectGov – Public Services all in one place

By Laura Scott | Published: April 1, 2010

You can use the DirectGov site to access all your public services in one place, making it even easier for you to be savvy about citizenship!

Take a look at the video below. Read full article

There has never been a better time to be a voter

By James Cleverly | Published: April 1, 2010

keyboard and mouseThere was a time when an MP visiting their constituency would have been greeted at the train station with a brass band, bunting and a school holiday.  Finding out what they did while up at Westminster was impossible and a letter might get an answer if you were very lucky (or influential).  The internet has changed all that. 

If you want to find out what your elected representatives have been saying or doing you can use one of a number of methods.  The Freedom of Information Act  has opened up the inner workings of government at all levels; it is a bit of a pain for us politicians but a goldmine for you as a political consumer.  To see what your MP has been up to on your behalf you can use They Work for You  to follow their attendance record and voting record –  although there isn’t a website that shows how many church hall meetings or scout hut openings, they do. Read full article

MySociety on Freedom of Information requests

By Savvy Citizens Team | Published: March 25, 2010

MySociety have created a video to show you just how easy it is to make a Freedom of Information request. Take a look!

Is it the citizen’s responsibility to protect their data?

By Louise Bennett | Published: March 19, 2010

Louise BennettDr. Louise Bennett is the Chair of the BCS Security Strategic Panel.

The benefits of sharing and giving access to your personal data can be enormous, ranging from the fun of using social networking sites with your friends to the benefits of receiving well directed medical or social assistance. On the other hand, the dangers to your privacy can be great.

Everyone needs to be aware of how their own actions may affect their privacy. For example, have you rushed through the set up of your profile and failed to set the privacy settings the way you want them, allowing everyone to see those private photos and video clips? Have you looked at the ‘boring’ terms and conditions of access to a site where you want to purchase or read something and made sure you are neither going to be bombarded by advertisements for products you have no interest in nor have your personal details handed over to other people and organisations you know nothing about? Read full article

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