Madrid 'hackathon': Computer hackers invited to set up council web portal

AT LEAST 70 hackers have come together in a virtual meeting called by Madrid city council under the hashtag #OpenMad offering ways of setting up a 'safe' website for residents to take part in local government decisions, see what their leaders are doing and contact them with their problems or suggestions.

The 'hackathon' – a first in Spain – started off on Twitter and then led to a face-to-face brainstorming session with the help of the Collective Intelligence for Democracy Laboratory (DemIC) at the Prado Medialab in the city centre.

Madrid's mayoress Manuela Carmena wants hackers to develop the council's web portal to make it as watertight as possible, and invited them to share their ideas this weekend.

Once the site is up and running, it will enable everyone in the city – or beyond – to access data about what their councillors are doing, when and why, how much they are spending and what on, or effectively creating an 'open kitchen' where there are no secrets.

It means Madrid will be ready to meet all requirements of the new Law of Transparency, due to come into effect throughout Spain on December 10.