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

Tue Oct 8 01:58:34 UTC 2013

Let me put it this way. Some people may take the side of opposing open data for some reason or another. What are the reasons those people give? The issues I mentioned are reasonable arguments for pointing out the difficulties of getting data to be open. It does take a lot of work (especially now when govts are being cut back so much), and generally those who prepare the data or are in the orgs that the data are about, do have a better understanding than those who are outside.

Those who are outside may be able to bring more (not necessarily better, but more) insight to the data, but there will generally be things about the data they won't know as well as will insiders.

Just to be clear, I am not arguing against open data, but I am pointing out some of the issues.

Gene

________________________________
 From: Aaron Wolf <wolftune at gmail.com>
To: Gene Shackman <eval_gene at yahoo.com>; Open Knowledge Foundation discussion list <okfn-discuss at lists.okfn.org> 
Sent: Monday, October 7, 2013 9:10 PM
Subject: Re: [okfn-discuss] what are the arguments against open data

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