Together with the online platform “Frag den Staat” (Ask the State), the Digital Public Services business unit of Fraunhofer FOKUS has developed the data analysis platform “Frag den Staat Analytics”, which provides insights into the work of German public authorities. “Frag den Staat” is a non-profit platform of the Open Knowledge Foundation Germany, which collects information requests from citizens to the administration, forwards them to the appropriate authorities and publishes the answers in a freely accessible format - in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, the spectrum ranges from studies and expert reports, contracts and construction plans to the internal protocols of the authorities. Statistics on the bundled knowledge of the platform can now be explored at publicanalytics.fokus.fraunhofer.de (in German).

“Our data analysis platform offers an insight into how public institutions deal with citizens' inquiries and issues - visually presented in such a way that even individuals unfamiliar with the topic can easily understand the correlations,” explains Dr. Jens Klessmann, head of the DPS business unit and initiator of the platform. “Frag den Staat Analytics” can be used by citizens as well as by the authorities themselves: “Employees of public authorities can use the platform to get an overview of whether they can still optimize the dialogue with citizens and which of their colleagues in other offices can provide tips for implementation if necessary,” adds Klessmann.

Arne Semsrott, project manager of “Frag den Staat”, sees clear advantages for citizens in the data analysis platform: “The tool enables better public control of public authorities: Who answers quickly, who regularly misses the deadlines of the Freedom of Information Act? The evaluations should serve as a basis for improving administrative practice - and soon the underlying law as well”.