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

Tue Oct 8 01:20:36 UTC 2013

Maybe your second point can be turned into an actual argument against open
data. Say other people, instead of misunderstanding the data actually
understand the data better than you. Also let them be bad guys. They might
then use their advantage in knowledge against you, maybe?

The answer is probably, that if the data is open, others (good guys) will
help you understand your data as well as the bad guys do.

2013/10/7 Gene Shackman <eval_gene at yahoo.com>

> 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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