But whether such information can be standardised enough to be computer-readable for comparison on company websites is questionable.

ECONOMIST: Auditing firms: Opening the books | The

The tool is one of the boldest uses so far of the computer-readable "XBRL tags" that are increasingly being attached to financial data around the world to enable easier comparisons between businesses.

CNN: SEC to roll out 'RoboCop' against fraud

Building on the success of the Green Button initiative which is providing consumers with secure access to their own energy data and has facilitated the voluntary release of energy-use data in computer-readable form to encourage private-sector innovation the Energy Data Initiative aims to harness the power of energy data through a combination of technology and ingenuity.

WHITEHOUSE: Brainstorming With Energy Data