I was listening to a back episode of NYT Tech Talk podcast from 9 December on this story about governments offering up data for developers to mash-up things like phone apps that can give you the safest route home at night (using government crime data) and other such things.

While I support open access to information (and remember that most of this information is available already, although perhaps not so readily), I also recognize the dangers of allowing people access to data without proper context or filters.  The article talks about it a little bit, but there are unfortunately a LOT of people who just don’t know how to properly analyze data, and there are also unfortunately a lot of people who are willing to manipulate or abuse data for their benefit.

It’s a really interesting topic as we’re entering an era when, at least in this country, people are starting to demand access to certain things, and transparency is a huge issue.  Do we have a line in mind when it comes to the amount of data?  Is it a matter of what form it comes in?

While I tend to agree that, in the absence of perfect data, actions can and sometimes should still be taken (As Evgeny Morozov has stated on several occasions), what happens when people a little less thoughtful get their hands on only limited data?

It would be ideal, of course, to have the data already run through a series of “experts” and analysts (not that that means it’s necessarily truth), or at the very least put in some format that allows people to understand all of the factors involved in a given situation and put the data into context…. but then we’d be really running budgets thin on the amount of government time that process would take.

So what then? Disregarding the instances alluded to above where action is still necessary with inadequate information, how to we handle the desire for access to information (disregard the instances alluded to above where action is still necessary with inadequate information) against the risks it might hold in terms of interpretations or abuse?

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• Once Again, If The Gov’t Has Data, It Will Be Abused (techdirt.com)
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