The Guardian last week announced the launch of Deleted Data, a new series investigating the growing loss and alteration of US government data – and what it means for the public.
Across federal agencies, decades’ worth of vital datasets and public-facing tools – spanning climate, public health, economic inequality and civil rights – have been removed, altered or left to deteriorate, says the publisher. The Deleted Data series will document what is being lost, examine why it matters, and reveal the tangible consequences for people and communities across the country.
The Guardian says the Deleted Data series is a key part of its broader Building Power project, which examines how communities are responding to growing political, economic and social challenges across the US. Alongside coverage of grassroots organizing and pro-democracy movements, this data component underscores how access to information is itself a form of power – revealing stark disparities and inequalities that further inform public policy debates and civic action.
The Deleted Data series is led by Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil, the Guardian’s senior editor, special series, alongside a dedicated data reporter, Amy Qin, who joins the Guardian from WBEZ, and graphics reporter Flávio Pessoa, formerly with the Washington Post. Their work builds on the Guardian’s long legacy of high-impact data journalism and accountability reporting, including the Guardian’s earlier series The Counted, which tracked the true number of people killed by police in the US over the course of a year, and Lost on the Frontline, which tracked healthcare workers who died from Covid in the absence of an effort by the government to do so.
The Deleted Data series, as part of the Building Power project, is made possible with philanthropic support from theguardian.org – an independent 501(c)3 dedicated to supporting independent journalism – and its partners, including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Marguerite Casey Foundation and others. All reporting published by the Guardian remains editorially independent, the publisher continued.
Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil, the Guardian’s senior editor, special series, said: “When it comes to government data, what we choose to measure and maintain reflects what we value. As that data disappears – whether from lack of public funding and political will, or more targeted attacks – it becomes that much harder to see inequality and to hold power to account. With the Deleted Data series, and our Building Power work overall, the Guardian hopes to restore the visibility and accountability we all need to make informed decisions.”
Nicole Kotzen, senior vice president for development at the Guardian and executive director of theguardian.org, said: “When public data is removed or made harder to access, it can lead to real human consequences – from impacting FEMA’s ability to respond to extreme weather to how food banks get meals to hungry families. theguardian.org, in partnership with our funders, is proud to support the Guardian’s work on Building Power, including the Deleted Data series, as a meaningful way to address this information gap and keep this data in full public view where it belongs.”
As part of the series, the Guardian is inviting readers, researchers and public servants to contribute tips and experiences related to missing or altered data. If you have information about deleted or changed datasets or other public records, email deleted-data@theguardian.com, and you can also contact the Guardian here.
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