Open Data and Democracy

Data is considered open when people are able to use, reuse and redistribute it, but an important condition should be available which is mentioning the references or citing the work. This means that data should be easily accessible, in readable format and licensed for all to use and share it (Kitchin 2014, p51). Creating applied and actionable knowledge out of data lies at the core of opening government data to the public. The knowledge pyramid — or data, information, knowledge, wisdom (DIKW) pyramid describes how data becomes information through linking and contextualizing different datasets, which then turns into knowledge through organization. Applying knowledge to real-world problems finally results in wisdom (Adler 1986; Kitchin 2014). The creation of value from open data depends on the ability to share and make data available to third parties, rather than on sheer volume. Creating applied knowledge from raw data is the main promise of open data.

(Adler 1986 & Kitchin2014)

According to Kitchin (204), there are two civil society movements lobbying for openness of data, the right for information movement and the open government data movement. Both movements believes in the benefits that the society will get after data openness. First, one of the main objectives of making data open is to promote transparency. For open data and transparency initiatives to lead to accountability, the required conditions include: getting the right data published; enabling actors to find, process and use information, and to act on any outputs; and enabling institutional or social forms of enforceability or citizens’ ability to choose better services. Moreover, granting users access to data makes them more informed, thus more eligible to be involved in choice and decision-making in the public services field. It encourages active citizen participation and involvement in shaping local governance. Furthermore, opening the data encourages organizations to enhance productivity and improve operational governess on one hand, and enhance relations and interaction among organizations each other’s and among organizations and users (Kitchin, 2014).

Data openness doesn’t exist in all countries, one of these countries is Lebanon where statistics and data are outdated. It is very important that governmental data and record are regulated and made accessible to the public (the Lebanese citizens and organizations in specific).

First of all, Lebanon has been suffering from environmental problem since 2015 which is the garbage crises. This problem has evolved due to the unclear and transparent written documents between the Lebanese government and Sukleen. Therefore, the main reason remains unknown and the public remains uninformed about it to handle a sustainable and tremendous solutions; so opening data related to this issue gives the public the information needed in order to participate in making a decision regarding this problem. Moreover, citizens and non- governmental organization will work on the cause to find solution because as we all know citizens are suffering from this, so they will participate in finding solution that benefits their health and environment on the highest level.

One of the most important issue that Lebanese government should take it more serious is the missing people from the Lebanese civil war 1975. Therefore, the archives of the missing people should be opened and made accessible to public. Over 17000 individual are estimated to be disappeared due to this war. Families are suffering in finding their beloved ones, they have no piece of information about them whether they are alive or not, in or out of Lebanon, killed or died. Therefore, making these archives open to the families at least make them more comfort or able to make a step or having a plan from which point to start their journey in looking for them. It would also give them the power to hold authority accountable. Politicians that had been involved in war crimes and took these individuals’ lives for granted should be held responsible. However, the benefits of making this data public are accompanied by risks. For example, families will start blaming parties who took place in their disappearance and might increase sectarianism and hate in individuals. Furthermore, Lebanese individuals tend to blame all political leaders, except their own. Thus data that reveals corruption or war crimes would not be used as a collective tool by the public to hold authority accountable and participate in decision-making. Instead, it would be used as added fuel to sectarianism and political divisions.

Another controversial issue in Lebanon is sexual harassment. The Internal Security Forces shows only one harassment case from 2010 to 2016. On the other hand TVs and programs show higher numbers. This kind of data is missed from the government so, the non- governmental organizations have worked on the issue and collect data related to the issue. One of the steps that the organization has taken is creating a tool called Harrastracker, which is a documentation tool created for victims to pinpoint their ordeals.

This type of data should be opened and updated by the Lebanese government with the help of civil organizations. The openness of such data strengthen the claim of the victim in order to defend themselves. This topic is missed from the government records because they considered it as a private issue and the government cannot interfere in such issues. Therefore. Making this data open and public allows the practice of accountability and may put an end for all harassment forms.

In conclusion, despite of all the risks that might impacted from opening data, this doesn’t justify the process of makin the private and a tool in government’s hand. In the case of environment and harassment, data should be open to public in order to make actions that make politicians and those in power move toward correcting and developing the society. Moreover, archives of missing people should be publicized as well because those who took apart in people disappearance still ruling the country and should be punished.

Adler, M. J. (1986). A guidebook to learning: For a lifelong pursuit of wisdom. New York/London: Macmillan/Collier Macmillan.

Kitchin, R. (2014) ‘Open and Linked Data’ in The Data Revolution, Sage, Delhi, London, New York. P. 50–51