Comments on: The Trouble With Open Data http://www.ihub.co.ke/blog/2012/11/the-trouble-with-open-data/ Nairobi's Innovation Hub Sat, 18 May 2013 13:16:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Michael Bauer http://www.ihub.co.ke/blog/2012/11/the-trouble-with-open-data/comment-page-1/#comment-5561 Michael Bauer Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:28:31 +0000 http://www.ihub.co.ke/blog/?p=11390#comment-5561 There are a few comments I'd like to make: 1. you state "For some reason, whether by accident or by design, the definition of OpenData seems to have been somehow restricted to government data. This is an unnecessary and arbitrary restriction." - this is factually incorrect. Open Data is all Data. (Open Government Data is a subcategory) - there are already private entities and research projects opening their data as open data (e.g: measurementlab.net). This is not a restriction at all - rather a misunderstanding of the full implications. 2. You are right: Open Data is only one side of transparency - the other has to be freedom of information legislation - to not depend on government benevolescence. There are a few comments I’d like to make:

1. you state “For some reason, whether by accident or by design, the definition of OpenData seems to have been somehow restricted to government data. This is an unnecessary and arbitrary restriction.” – this is factually incorrect. Open Data is all Data. (Open Government Data is a subcategory) – there are already private entities and research projects opening their data as open data (e.g: measurementlab.net). This is not a restriction at all – rather a misunderstanding of the full implications.

2. You are right: Open Data is only one side of transparency – the other has to be freedom of information legislation – to not depend on government benevolescence.

]]> By: Gabriella Razzano http://www.ihub.co.ke/blog/2012/11/the-trouble-with-open-data/comment-page-1/#comment-5560 Gabriella Razzano Tue, 13 Nov 2012 11:59:22 +0000 http://www.ihub.co.ke/blog/?p=11390#comment-5560 This is precisely why, at the Open Democracy Advice Centre, we believe fundamentally that the call for open data cannot replace the call for access to information laws, that are well implemented. The focus on open government data has in some ways quietened voices on access to information laws - but it should be no surprise that many of our African governments prefer the call for open government data (and proactive disclosure of information) if it means they have greater control over what information is, or isn't, released. The two calls must be continually voiced together - we still only have around 10 African countries with access to information laws and, I believe, these laws must exist; especially when we want a big stick for beating govenrment with to release more 'controversial' forms of information. You can see further www.opendemocracy.org.za and also the African Platform on Acces to Information at http://www.africanplatform.org/. This is precisely why, at the Open Democracy Advice Centre, we believe fundamentally that the call for open data cannot replace the call for access to information laws, that are well implemented. The focus on open government data has in some ways quietened voices on access to information laws – but it should be no surprise that many of our African governments prefer the call for open government data (and proactive disclosure of information) if it means they have greater control over what information is, or isn’t, released. The two calls must be continually voiced together – we still only have around 10 African countries with access to information laws and, I believe, these laws must exist; especially when we want a big stick for beating govenrment with to release more ‘controversial’ forms of information. You can see further http://www.opendemocracy.org.za and also the African Platform on Acces to Information at http://www.africanplatform.org/.

]]> By: Adamsy http://www.ihub.co.ke/blog/2012/11/the-trouble-with-open-data/comment-page-1/#comment-5521 Adamsy Mon, 12 Nov 2012 20:48:56 +0000 http://www.ihub.co.ke/blog/?p=11390#comment-5521 Nice one! Very thought provoking!! Nice one! Very thought provoking!!

]]> By: Wilfred Oluoch http://www.ihub.co.ke/blog/2012/11/the-trouble-with-open-data/comment-page-1/#comment-5507 Wilfred Oluoch Mon, 12 Nov 2012 16:34:26 +0000 http://www.ihub.co.ke/blog/?p=11390#comment-5507 I have often wondered how committed Government really is on this OpenData initiative when we still have an acute culture of "hiding information". I have done some work with government as a software consultant quite often and come across artificial barriers to information ( or data sets) that should be public. The push has to come from top-down. We need regulations that force ministries to publish on OpenData. Perhaps part of performance contracts. I have often wondered how committed Government really is on this OpenData initiative when we still have an acute culture of “hiding information”. I have done some work with government as a software consultant quite often and come across artificial barriers to information ( or data sets) that should be public. The push has to come from top-down. We need regulations that force ministries to publish on OpenData. Perhaps part of performance contracts.

]]> By: Steven http://www.ihub.co.ke/blog/2012/11/the-trouble-with-open-data/comment-page-1/#comment-5476 Steven Mon, 12 Nov 2012 09:56:26 +0000 http://www.ihub.co.ke/blog/?p=11390#comment-5476 Conrad, while the pressure for OpenData is certainly top-down, you rightfully point out that the egov fundamentals are not in place. That certainly impacts, evidently, the success of OpenData since a lot of the bottlenecks are still at that very fundamental level, including control and (mis)management of information that should be easily publicly available and accessible, basis for OpenData. I'm sure, I hope, that OpenData has invested some effort and resources in this regard, otherwise it'll continue being a nice repository but with low value content. Conrad, while the pressure for OpenData is certainly top-down, you rightfully point out that the egov fundamentals are not in place. That certainly impacts, evidently, the success of OpenData since a lot of the bottlenecks are still at that very fundamental level, including control and (mis)management of information that should be easily publicly available and accessible, basis for OpenData. I’m sure, I hope, that OpenData has invested some effort and resources in this regard, otherwise it’ll continue being a nice repository but with low value content.

]]> By: Michael Pedersen http://www.ihub.co.ke/blog/2012/11/the-trouble-with-open-data/comment-page-1/#comment-5466 Michael Pedersen Mon, 12 Nov 2012 09:05:41 +0000 http://www.ihub.co.ke/blog/?p=11390#comment-5466 100% agree the "request" for datasets mechanism is far from good enough. I am still waiting for a dataset about registered companies that I requested on the launch day of the OpenData portal. ICT Board actually did follow up on the request and tried to avail it (since that particular dataset has already been digitized so it would technically be "easy"), but the goverment institution in charge did not feel there was any "reason" to avail this dataset - and the whole thing stoped there. What good is it if the individual goverment department can just deny availing a dataset ? 100% agree the “request” for datasets mechanism is far from good enough.
I am still waiting for a dataset about registered companies that I requested on the launch day of the OpenData portal.

ICT Board actually did follow up on the request and tried to avail it (since that particular dataset has already been digitized so it would technically be “easy”), but the goverment institution in charge did not feel there was any “reason” to avail this dataset – and the whole thing stoped there.

What good is it if the individual goverment department can just deny availing a dataset ?

]]> By: bankelele http://www.ihub.co.ke/blog/2012/11/the-trouble-with-open-data/comment-page-1/#comment-5458 bankelele Mon, 12 Nov 2012 08:16:22 +0000 http://www.ihub.co.ke/blog/?p=11390#comment-5458 http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/Open-data-initiative-has-hit-a-dead-end/-/1006/1617026/-/n18uhrz/-/index.html Going by this article in the Sunday Nation, the concept of 'open data' has not been sold to many government departments - who still hoard information they collect with taxpayers money - but which they will only release in doses or formats that they see fit. http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/Open-data-initiative-has-hit-a-dead-end/-/1006/1617026/-/n18uhrz/-/index.html

Going by this article in the Sunday Nation, the concept of ‘open data’ has not been sold to many government departments – who still hoard information they collect with taxpayers money – but which they will only release in doses or formats that they see fit.

]]> By: Upin Vasani http://www.ihub.co.ke/blog/2012/11/the-trouble-with-open-data/comment-page-1/#comment-5455 Upin Vasani Mon, 12 Nov 2012 08:07:27 +0000 http://www.ihub.co.ke/blog/?p=11390#comment-5455 Identifying and highlighting the problem is good ! What are the prospective solutions and how can these be meaningfully addressed is what is now required. Identifying and highlighting the problem is good ! What are the prospective solutions and how can these be meaningfully addressed is what is now required.

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