Real-time traffic and weather updates are just some examples of open data that is helping us. With open data, we can avoid traffic jams and prepare for a heavy thunderstorm.
Open data is also instrumental in achieving a transparent and accountable government. As summarised by researcher Robert Kitchin, open data is expected to promote efficiency and evidence-based decision-making, as well as collaboration between agencies, citizens, and the business sectors. Building robust information and collaboration among different stakeholders will result in better governance. Open data might lead to citizens’ empowerment through the democratisation of information. Data used for decision-making, made available to the public, eliminates data asymmetries, where the government controls the information. Citizens can make sense of data on their own and participate in different initiatives through data use, re-use, service request, or participation in civic hacking initiatives. And, data is a potential resource for economic value generation, such as through the creation of new products and services.
Indeed, much of the initial discussion on open data was optimistic, believing that technology produces positive outcomes and addresses social and environmental issues. However, over the years, researchers such as Jo Bates, Kitchin, and Justin Longo have suggested that behind the long list of promises lie a set of problems that escaped proper investigation and reflection.
