Singapore GovCamp 18th Jan 2011

Discussion Session

“As governments around the world embark on open data

projects are our institutions and citizens ready to move to

this 'real-time' world. Have we considered all the upsides

and downsides?”

Stuart Smith CEO

Positives of Open Government Data

Taken from a UK perspective but commonly used:

Promoting transparency and accountability

Empowering citizens to drive public sector reform

Releasing the economic and social value of information

Open Data In the UK

160 UK Councils Spending Data

Real Time Cities

UK AURN System

But what about the citizen and the institutions in all this?

Visions of technology-driven change often suppose situations in which “conflict, politics and adversarial legalism are unknown or at least unimportant”

Hood, C.C. & Margetts, H.Z., 2007. The Tools of Government in the Digital Age 2nd

ed., Palgrave Macmillan.

160 UK Councils Spending Data

Data Journalism

Do Real Time Cities = Real Time Decision Making? How much data can we cope with?

Are all citizens really empowered?

What about context?

What about cognitive bias?

Are all app developers agenda free?

Do our democratic processes move at the same speed?

Reactionary politics rather than considered long term politics?

What about time for reflection in decision making?

Is our professional training recognising this shift?

Transport engineers

Environmental engineers

Urban planning professionals

Governance professionals & politicians

School and University training

In the UK will scrutiny through data journalism prevent innovation in the public sector?

Is there a potential that in opening up data to empower citizens we reinforce the technocratic elite (geekocracy?) and further disenfranchise those without the know how, skills, access or time?

Solutions

Open Data has the ability to be hugely powerful for mankind and the planet but….

If technology is moving and recombining faster than our citizens and institutions can keep up, what to do?

Education – how is this emerging „real time‟ data world being factored in? Educators at all levels need to consider this

Engagement – as with all changes, governments will want to ensure that all citizens are engaged in these changes.

Privacy – what is acceptable? Can we opt in and out?

Professions – professional bodies must begin the process of engaging and educating their members

Institutions – are our great civic institutions adapting to the changes

Business – does the business community understand the implications of open data

NOW DEBATE!