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

[Reuben Binns]

Great question Gene. Two arguments I've heard which haven't been mentioned
so far, which have some merit, are;

- 'Open Data empowers the already empowered' Because there are barriers to
open data use by the disempowered, their interests are often not served by
open data, so it increases inequalities. See Michael Gurstein
http://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3316/2764 . For what
it's worth, my response to this argument would be a) just because some
people are illiterate, should we not build public libraries? and b) we must
ensure that we build capacity for open data use by all. Many different
projects within OKFN and outside are working on this and already making
good progress.

- 'Open Data facilitates the free transfer of public assets to the private
sector'. The idea is that if the data had remained closed, it could have
been sold to the private sector, putting more money in the public purse.
I'm not convinced of this one either, but would be interested to see
evidence one way or the other.

-Reuben


> Message: 4
> Date: Mon, 7 Oct 2013 15:25:30 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Gene Shackman <eval_gene at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [okfn-discuss] what are the arguments against open data
> To: Open Knowledge Foundation discussion list
>         <okfn-discuss at lists.okfn.org>
> Message-ID:
>         <1381184730.42218.YahooMailNeo at web125802.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>
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>
> 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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