[okfn-discuss] what are the arguments against open data

[Gene Shackman]

Ewan Klein asked an excellent question on identifying specific demonstrations of the benefits of open data. That made me wonder about a related question: what are the arguments against open data?

Two are:

1. It takes a lot of work to get data into the format for making it open. This isn't really an argument -against- open data, but a comment to be sympathetic to those trying to make their data open. It does take quite a bit of work.

2. It's easy for many people to misunderstand or misuse the data, unintentionally. Again, not an argument -against- open data. A lot of times, it takes a lot of background to understand the data being presented. There are many things that an outsider wouldn't necessarily know or think of about the data, even if those who are making it available spend a lot of time explaining the data.


So there are many difficulties with open data. It's not something just anyone can pick up and three minutes later make a snappy chart or graph and a story. As much work should go into using the data as creating the data.

But again, these aren't arguments -against- open data. So what are?

 
Gene




Gene Shackman, Ph.D.
The Global Social Change Research Project
http://gsociology.icaap.org
Free Resources for Methods in Evaluation and Social Research
http://gsociology.icaap.org/methods
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Applied Sociologist
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