Open Data and The New Divide

Over the last four years open government and open data have been at the forefront of the debate on how governments can become more transparent, participative and efficient. The theory is well known: rather than (or alongside) providing the government’s interpretation or packaging of public data, this data should be made available in raw, open format for people to build their own views and applications. Open data evangelists say that this is an essential component of any open government initiative, and they must be right, given the number of jurisdictions that are pursuing this around the world. I do agree with the principle that making data equally available to everybody creates a level-playing field and helps overcome some of the most evident problems with information not being available or carrying a spin that precludes it from being really transparent. The downside is a deluge of data. People can easily draw in raw open data that is either too much or simply meaningless unless some processing takes place. But who is supposed to do the processing? It can’t be government. Or – better – it can be, but this would bring us back to square one, with suspicion of government cooking its data to prove a certain point or to hide some uncomfortable reality. Then you have the so-called “civil society”, made of voluntary and advocacy groups, activists, as well as lobby groups, corporations and the mythical “application developers”.