Government, Information, and Accountability lecture notes
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Course
Government, Information, and Accountability
Institution
Universiteit Van Amsterdam (UvA)
This document contains notes from lectures 1, 2 and 4, the others are missing. These notes are extensive and helped me get a 7.5 for the course even when I did not attend or study lecture 3, 5 and 6.
Lecture 1
News articles the lecturer used as an example
Verplichte registratie sensoren gemeente
• They want to make the sensors known
• Senors are used for parking data air quality crowds etc
• Only the registrations of the sensors is probably not enough to make clear what the
sensors are doing
Advies inzake Woo-verzoek naar informatie met betrekking tot covid-19
"The Advisory Board has established that the factory does not provide the publicity intended
by the Woo [Freedom of Information Act] for journalists and other applicants: applicants
have to wait far too long for information, and too much information remains confidential.
There is still a considerable 'stock of work'. The Advisory Board expects that this advice will
encourage you as a minister to handle Woo requests about the approach to COVID-19 more
responsively and generously". (5 April)
• New freedom of information act in the Netherlands
• For people who feel their information requests are not dealt with properly by the
government
Toelichting op database Nederlandse luchtaanvallen tijdens operation inherent resolve
Childcare benefits scandal: the Netherlands 2012-2021
• Government made a big roll in destroying the lives of people who became victims of
government policy
• This shows that information is not just data but it can have big implications on lives
of people
• Although this one received a lot of media attention, its not the only one
• There was a parliamentary interrogation commission which made very clear what
went wrong and which stakeholders played a role in this issue
,The allowances were paid by the taxation agency
2005: regulated that allowances would stop once regularities would appear.
2006: the tax and customs administration started to use very controversial working matters.
Controversial was that in case of doubt allowances would be stopped. Means that there was
no evidence required but they could still stop without a real explanation.
2009: the first problems became known that child minor agencies (appelbloesem) facilitated
fraud. The problem was is that not the agency was held liable but the parents. Result was that
the allowances would be stopped
2013: became clear that a criminal gang (“Bulgarian fraud”) encouraged to register briefly in
the Netherlands to receive allowance. Once tax authorities found out that there was a problem
those people were already abroad. The start of a tough and severe anti-fraud policy by the
government. Resulted in all kinds of organisations who specialised in fighting fraud.
2014: the first lawsuits started being made by parents who did not agree with what the
taxation office decides. It would take years before things would change. Eva Gonzales Perez
2015: accusing the state of racial profiling in which parents became victim of being accused
of fraud
2017: council of state made the rule that it is illegal to stop allowances in groups. This was
because once one parent was accused of fraud for all parents the allowance would be
stopped.
2020: parliament became involved. Resulted in the parliamentary inquiry committee. Took
many years before this issue became clear
2021: government decided to resign. They became aware that their policy was at the basis of
this big scandal
Documentary of the parents
• There is a pattern of parents saying they have sent the letters with bank statements and
other information necessary but the tax agency has not received them
, • One reason could be a technical problem
• Communication issue and how is this information processed once it is sent
• Even if it was sent in a registered way the information was often hard to trace
• Agencies do not have a proper answer which is one of the big issues here
Control instruments parliament (tweede kamer)
• Parliament is one of the 3 big components in the rule of law
• One of the big roles of the parliament is to control the government
3 roles
• Parliamentary investigation: group of the parliament start a committee and ask people
to be heard by them but there’s no obligation for citizens to come to these meetings.
The aim is not so much truth finding but more understanding complicated issues
• Parliamentary interrogation: aim is truth finding. Based on documentary research in
the first place and in the second place people can be heard. People are obliged to
come to these hearings. They are heard under oath which means you can be
prosecuted if you did not speak the truth
• Parliamentary inquiry (enquete): gas extraction in Groningen
Toeslagenaffaire uitspraak commissie van Dam video
• ‘Unprecedented justice’ ongekent onrecht die de ouders is aangedaan.
• Onrecht omdat de ouders geen fouten hadden gemaakt maar toch werden behandeld
as fraudeurs
• Issue with the rule of law; you still need to look at specific circumstances
• In the end the government decided to resign because they felt It was irresponsible if
they continue
Role taxation agency
• They were responsible for providing the allowances
• Responsible for tax collection
• Department of benefits of the tax authorities
• Memo palmen by Sandra palmen; that memo became subject of investigation
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