'Absurd' rule means Gov files on Prince Andrew won't be made public until 2065

Current government regulations regarding the Royal Family create a significant barrier to transparency, effectively sealing official records away for over a century. This exception to standard archival laws means that files concerning Prince Andrew’s tenure as Trade Ambassador remain inaccessible, preventing public scrutiny of taxpayer-funded activities and controversial associations. The rule is widely criticized as absurd, especially when compared to the ease with which royals disclose personal details for commercial gain. Biographers argue that this culture of secrecy hinders historical research and democratic accountability, suggesting the King should abolish these outdated restrictions to align royal transparency with modern standards. This issue is highly relevant to open data advocates because it highlights a glaring gap in public sector transparency. When public funds support royal roles, the resulting data should be open and accessible. The persistence of such restrictive policies underscores the urgent need to apply open data principles to all government-funded activities, ensuring that citizens can hold institutions accountable regardless of their connection to the monarchy.

Source: mirror.co.uk
Published on 2023-09-05

Open Data

Related news