# Open data: promise, but not enough progress from G20 countries URL: https://www.transparency.org/en/news/open-data-promise-but-not-enough-progress-from-g20-countries Type: News Published: 2017-02-23 Updated: 2019-11-19 --- ![](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/2017_OpenData_Shutterstock_EkaphonManeechot_1280.jpg?auto=compress&fit=crop&fm=webp&w=1280&h=720) 23 February 2017 Open data is a pretty simple concept: governments should publish information about what they do – data that can be freely used, modified and shared by anyone for any purpose. This is particularly important in the fight against corruption. In 2015 the Group of 20 (G20) governments agreed on a set of [G20 Anti-Corruption Open Data Principles](http://www.g20.utoronto.ca/2015/G20-Anti-Corruption-Open-Data-Principles.pdf). These principles aim to make crucial data public specifically because they can help stop corruption. Publishing this data would allow civil society to monitor things like the use of public resources and taxes, the awarding of public contracts, and the sources of political party finance. It would make it easier to hold governments to account and deter criminal activities like bribery and nepotism. ![Animated GIF of open data principles](/images/uploads/feature/OpenDataPrinciplesAnimated_740.gif) Transparency International and the [Web Foundation](http://webfoundation.org/) examined the extent to which five G20 countries – Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia and South Africa – are living up to these principles. There are individual country reports (see below) as well as an [overall report](/whatwedo/publication/connecting_the_dots_building_the_case_for_open_data_to_fight_corruption). The basic conclusion: there isn’t enough progress. No country released all the datasets required, and much of the information proved either hard to find or difficult to use. ### Key overall findings **No country released all anti-corruption datasets** - France showed the most progress, publishing eight of ten datasets identified as key to anti-corruption - Brazil was the only country to publish data on government spending - No country has a beneficial ownership register – despite all showing some level of [commitment to do so](http://webfoundation.org/2016/06/anti-corruption-summit-scorecard-open-data-winners-and-losers/) at last year’s Anti-Corruption Summit in London. **When released, data is not always useful and useable** - In many cases the data is stale and lacks granularity ­– making meaningful insights difficult to draw - Access is a problem in all countries, with datasets hard to find and not all available from a single platform, meaning those looking to identify corruption need to dig further to find critical information **Data not published to open standards** - Only France published the majority of its datasets in line with open data standards - This lack of standards makes merging and comparing datasets difficult – particularly between countries **Lack of open data skills** - Although some countries do offer some level of open data training for staff, these rarely incorporate an anti-corruption focus Alongside the [overview report](/whatwedo/publication/connecting_the_dots_building_the_case_for_open_data_to_fight_corruption), five country-level studies ([Brazil](/whatwedo/publication/open_data_and_the_fight_against_corruption_in_brazil), [France](/whatwedo/publication/open_data_and_the_fight_against_corruption_in_france), [Germany](/whatwedo/publication/open_data_and_the_fight_against_corruption_in_germany), [Indonesia](/whatwedo/publication/open_data_and_the_fight_against_corruption_in_indonesia) and [South Africa](/whatwedo/publication/open_data_and_the_fight_against_corruption_in_south_africa)) revealed a range of shortcomings in national commitments to G20 open data principles. The graphics below summarise the main finding and recommendation for improvement per country. ![Brazil open data graphic](/images/uploads/feature/BrazilOpenData_740.png) - [Access the Brazil report](/whatwedo/publication/open_data_and_the_fight_against_corruption_in_brazil) ![France open data graphic](/images/uploads/feature/FranceOpenData_740.png) - [Access the France report](/whatwedo/publication/open_data_and_the_fight_against_corruption_in_france) ![Germany open data graphic](/images/uploads/feature/GermanyOpenData_740.png) - [Access the Germany report](/whatwedo/publication/open_data_and_the_fight_against_corruption_in_germany) ![Indonesia open data graphic](/images/uploads/feature/IndonesiaOpenData_740.png) - [Access the Indonesia report](/whatwedo/publication/open_data_and_the_fight_against_corruption_in_indonesia) ![South Africa open data graphic](/images/uploads/feature/SouthAfricaOpenData_740.png) - [Access the South Africa report](/whatwedo/publication/open_data_and_the_fight_against_corruption_in_south_africa) ### Resources Press release: “[G20 countries are breaking commitments to publish data that helps tackle corruption](/news/pressrelease/g20_countries_are_breaking_commitments_to_publish_data_that_helps_tackle_co)” ## Countries - [Brazil](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/brazil) - [France](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/france) - [Germany](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/germany) - [Indonesia](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/indonesia) - [South Africa](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/south-africa) For any press inquiries please contact ### You might also like... ## [Anti-corruption gaps are leaving democracy in Europe exposed](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/anti-corruption-gaps-leaving-democracy-europe-exposed) News • 15 September 2026 Too many European countries are failing to effectively implement and enforce their anti-corruption laws, while several are rapidly backsliding. ## [CPI 2024 for Sub-Saharan Africa: Weak anti-corruption measures undermine climate action](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/cpi-2024-sub-saharan-africa-weak-anti-corruption-measures-undermine-climate-action) News • 11 February 2025 Despite a very low regional performance in 2024, there were African countries that invested in anti-corruption and made remarkable progress. ## [CPI 2024 for Asia Pacific: Leaders failing to stop corruption amid an escalating climate crisis](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/cpi-2024-asia-pacific-leaders-failing-to-stop-corruption-amid-escalating-climate-crisis) News • 11 February 2025 In the region most prone to natural disasters, governments across Asia Pacific are still not delivering on anti-corruption pledges. ## [Land and corruption - a global concern](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/land-and-corruption-a-global-concern) News • 15 November 2011 In November 2011 the world’s population passed the 7 billion mark, a milestone greeted with understandable trepidation. 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