This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jan/28/hackers-hold-the-european-parliament-to-account

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Hackers hold the European parliament to account Hackers hold the European parliament to account
(7 months later)
It is the end of a long weekend in Brussels and 36 Europeans are gathered in a room where they have spent the past 48 hours - leaving only to sleep for short periods and to find food and energy drinks.It is the end of a long weekend in Brussels and 36 Europeans are gathered in a room where they have spent the past 48 hours - leaving only to sleep for short periods and to find food and energy drinks.
This is a hackathon, an event where computer programmers join with designers, journalists and activists to create digital projects at high speed. Hack days can be focused on using a particular application, programming language or are used to create a new product for a particular company. This is a hackathon, an event where computer programmers join with designers, journalists and activists to create digital projects at high speed. Hack days can be focused on using a particular application, programming language or are used to create a new product for a particular company.
The hackers gathered here are not the criminal sort who attack computer security or intercept voicemails, but believers in open government and in using technology for good.The hackers gathered here are not the criminal sort who attack computer security or intercept voicemails, but believers in open government and in using technology for good.
Most are volunteers who have travelled from countries across the European Union. They want to create something that holds the European parliament to account and encourages citizens to vote in the elections in May. Most are volunteers who have travelled from countries across the European Union. They want to create something that holds the European parliament to account and encourages citizens to vote in the elections in May.
Computers are branded with stickers that warn “this is an NSA-monitored device” and an Orwellian sign on the door reads “ignorance is strength”. When introductions begin, a hacker from Hungary shouts: “We want to dig dirt!” and is received with cheers. Computers are branded with stickers that warn “this is an NSA-monitored device” and an Orwellian sign on the door reads “ignorance is strength”. When introductions begin, a hacker from Hungary shouts: “We want to dig dirt!” and is received with cheers.
Europe's 'lack of information'Europe's 'lack of information'
The Europarl Hackathon has been organised by Xavier Dutoit, who works with NGOs to help them use technology. What started as a plan to get a few friends together in his hometown turned into a continental event, oversubscribed with 200 applicants.The Europarl Hackathon has been organised by Xavier Dutoit, who works with NGOs to help them use technology. What started as a plan to get a few friends together in his hometown turned into a continental event, oversubscribed with 200 applicants.
They are united, he says, by what he calls “the hacker spirit – everybody here is thinking the same thing: I know that something is broken and I know I can do something to fix it”.They are united, he says, by what he calls “the hacker spirit – everybody here is thinking the same thing: I know that something is broken and I know I can do something to fix it”.
When the European parliament was first elected in 1979, voter turnout across the EU was 62%. When the European parliament was first elected in 1979, voter turnout across the EU was 62%. It has been in steady decline ever since, with turnout in the UK consistently well below the European average. This is in spite of the fact that more proposed amendments are introduced into law at the European level than in any national parliament.
It has been in steady decline ever since, with turnout in the UK When it comes to national elections in the UK, anger against the political class is most often cited as the reason for voter apathy. Xavier Dutoit believes that Europe suffers from the opposite problem: a lack of information.
consistently well below the European average. This is in spite of the “There is a huge gap between the power of the European parliament and citizens’ knowledge of it. It frightens me. At the national level, we hold politicians to account. But the only people holding MEPs accountable are in the Brussels bubble. Can you name your MEP? Can you name a single MEP?”
fact that more proposed amendments are introduced into law at the
European level than in any national parliament.
When it comes to national elections in the UK, anger against the political class is most often cited as the reason for voter apathy. Xavier Dutoit believes that Europe suffers from the opposite problem: a lack of information.
“There
is a huge gap between the power of the European parliament and
citizens’ knowledge of it. It frightens me. At the national level, we
hold politicians to account. But the only people holding MEPs
accountable are in the Brussels bubble. Can you name your MEP? Can you
name a single MEP?”
The EU's first database of declarations of interestThe EU's first database of declarations of interest
Some of the hackers here are interested in challenging specific laws or issues. One group has built a tool that enables users to assess the green agenda of their MEPs, on a ranking from "climate champion" to "climate killer".Some of the hackers here are interested in challenging specific laws or issues. One group has built a tool that enables users to assess the green agenda of their MEPs, on a ranking from "climate champion" to "climate killer".
Another group has created a campaign website Another group has created a campaign website to challenge the EU on its copyright laws, out of a frustration with being unable to access YouTube videos in Germany: “this is not a national issue. The internet does not have borders”, says developer Florian Stascheck.
to challenge the EU on its copyright laws, out of a frustration with The largest group of hackers has spent the weekend clustered in a separate room, scrutinising hundreds of individual PDF documents, which make up the declarations of interest of the 766 members of the European parliament. Each document, a scanned PDF handwritten in the language of the MEP, must be manually translated and added to a spreadsheet.
being unable to access YouTube videos in Germany: “this is not a To the hackers' knowledge, it is the first time anyone has tried to systematically hold MEPs to account in this way. They are creating the first common database of its kind in the EU.
national issue. The internet does not have borders”, says developer The requirement for MEPs to declare their financial sources and potential conflicts of interest became mandatory for the first time in 2012, part of the new code of conduct introduced by the European parliament. The ruling followed the cash-for-laws scandal, in which four MEPs were accused of accepting money to influence legislation. Austrian MEP Ernst Strasser was jailed for bribery in January 2014.
Florian Stascheck.
The largest group of hackers has spent the
weekend clustered in a separate room, scrutinising hundreds of
individual PDF documents, which make up the declarations of interest of the 766 members of the European parliament. Each document, a scanned PDF handwritten in the language of the MEP, must be manually translated and added to a spreadsheet.
To the hackers'
knowledge, it is the first time anyone has tried to systematically hold
MEPs to account in this way. They are creating the first common
database of its kind in the EU.
The requirement for MEPs to
declare their financial sources and potential conflicts of interest
became mandatory for the first time in 2012, part of the new code of
conduct introduced by the European parliament. The ruling followed the cash-for-laws scandal, in which four MEPs were accused of accepting money to influence legislation. Austrian MEP Ernst Strasser was jailed for bribery in January 2014.
Dumping PDFs online 'is not open government'Dumping PDFs online 'is not open government'
But many NGOs are angry that the parliament But many NGOs are angry that the parliament shows no will to implement the code and it is clear that some MEPs do not take the exercise seriously. The Danish MEP Jens Rohde lists his occupation as "master of the universe" while many others have neglected to fill in any information at all.
shows no will to implement the code and it is clear that some MEPs do Ronny Patz, who works for Transparency International, has lead the project over the weekend. “Why do we, as citizens and volunteers, have to come and spend the entire weekend in Brussels liberating handwritten Lithuanian and Greek just to hold our representatives to account?" he says. "The information goes through the hands of the parliament’s adminstrators - dumping PDFs on a website is not open government.”
not take the exercise seriously. The Danish MEP Jens Rohde lists his Although the project is not yet complete, the hackers are forming a campaign that uses technology to make the EU accountable. Their parting commitment is an open letter addressed to the secretary general calling for a more access to a parliament that is open in practice.
occupation as "master of the universe" while many others have neglected to fill in any information at all. Dan O’Huiginn is leaving the hackathon to take an eight hour flight back to Sarajevo. He says he will miss the hacking community.
Ronny Patz, who works for Transparency International, “There is technological knowledge here but there is also an atmosphere of idealism," he says. "In Bosnia, no one believes they can change how corrupt and incompetent politics is.
has lead the project over the weekend. “Why do we, as citizens and
volunteers, have to come and spend the entire weekend in Brussels
liberating handwritten Lithuanian and Greek just to hold our
representatives to account?" he says. "The information goes through the hands of the parliament’s adminstrators - dumping PDFs on a website is not open government.”
Although
the project is not yet complete, the hackers are forming a campaign
that uses technology to make the EU accountable. Their parting
commitment is an open letter addressed to the secretary general calling for a more access to a parliament that is open in practice.
Dan
O’Huiginn is leaving the hackathon to take an eight hour flight back to
Sarajevo. He says he will miss the hacking community.
“There is
technological knowledge here but there is also an atmosphere of
idealism," he says. "In Bosnia, no one believes they can change how
corrupt and incompetent politics is.
"Here, people just write a bit of code and do something about it.”"Here, people just write a bit of code and do something about it.”
• Self-driving cars irresistible to hackers, security expert warns• Self-driving cars irresistible to hackers, security expert warns