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

Tue Oct 8 01:10:21 UTC 2013

The only arguments against open data that I know of are:

* Allows people to *intentionally *misuse the data, either to misrepresent
things or worse to attack some institutions or people, such as data that
indicates some inefficiency in a government agency could be used to attack
the credibility of the agency and thus undermine support for regulations
(not saying this is necessarily bad, although it could be, but those who
find this threatening would oppose open data).

* Those who are anti-democratic are opposed to open data because it is
democratizing.

I think what you meant is: what is wrong with open data if we assume
certain morality that favors transparency, science, and democracy? The
answer is, I think: nothing is wrong with it as long as measures are in
place to protect civil liberties related to privacy.

Cheers,
Aaron

--
Aaron Wolf
wolftune.com

On Mon, Oct 7, 2013 at 3:25 PM, Gene Shackman <eval_gene at yahoo.com> wrote:

> 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
> ----------
> Applied Sociologist
> ----------
>
>
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