I would extend it. I think the notion is that it's independent, but I can understand why some might view the sources and compiler of that data as perhaps influencing in some way.
As a consumer, it's helpful to understand and have consistency of source. At the very least, if you believe in or if you imply some bias, even if it's not there, you're in a position to at least account for that, rather than a distributed network of sources with all their own idiosyncrasies and biases, which are real or perceived, being incumbent in that.