Why open data doesn’t mean open government
Demand for open data in China is gaining traction despite the country’s traditionally closed approach to government. Although there’s no national-level open data initiative, both Chinese citizens and senior leadership are starting to call for greater access to public information.
More countries than ever before are considering the merits of opening up their data – even those that have been described as politically repressive by human rights organisations.
In March, Li Keqiang, China’s premier, said government data should be public wherever possible “unless it is relevant to national security and privacy”. This sounds strangely democratic for a country that has a history of cracking down on human rights activists, raising questions over what government data is considered “relevant” in China.
Jonathan Gray, director of policy and research at Open Knowledge, says it is important to consider the distinctions between “open data” and “open government”. He says opening up existing data sets is just the first step and doesn’t automatically lead to a democratic government: “Publishing open data is of course not sufficient for open governments or open societies. It is just one ingredient in the mix, and no replacement for other vital elements of democratic societies, like robust access to information laws, whistleblower protections and rules to protect freedom of expression, freedom of the press and freedom of assembly.”
Gray adds that it’s not just countries such as China that neglect these democratic elements: “Just look at the recent treatment of whistleblowers and leakers, or concerns around the UK government’s proposals for amending FOI [freedom of information] laws.”
A number of groups have sprung up in China to put pressure on the government to increase available data. As well as DJChina (data journalism China) and the UDParty (open data and smart cities) , Open Knowledge China is at the forefront of making open data more widely available.
Feng Gao is one of Open Knowledge China’s ambassadors in Shanghai. With a background in engineering, he’s determined to improve the accessibility of open data in China: “Open data is so important because it’s the key to modern collaboration, especially if multi-stakeholders are involved.”
He says that if huge social issues are being discussed or debated then open data is the best way to bring every party into the conversation. “It gives them the right weapon to investigate the issue, stay on the same page, and then come up with a good solution.
