Open data in Lebanon. A Blessing or a curse?

Critically evaluate the potential and limits of open data in strengthening democratic rights, transparency and justice in Lebanon.

Start by summarizing the main promises associated with open data. The slides and class readings provide you with key arguments here. Identify 3 areas in Lebanon where you think open access to government records could make a difference. Think of access to environmental information or planning documents i.e. for public transportation or electricity for example. Or consider access to critical historical documents related to the war. In what ways can open data help citizens in holding politicians and non governmental organizations accountable? And how can it help increase their participation in key decisions affecting the country as a whole?

Then move on to critically evaluate whether these benefits apply to all groups in society equally and whether all social grievances can be indeed be solved by opening data alone. What else is needed to make open data an empowering force? Think about our discussion about the sensitivity of war related data for example, or how access to historical archives always involves an element of dispossession, as those whose lives and experience is captured in data lose control over the ways their histories are represented and told.

End your discussion with a brief assessment whether these risks justify the withholding of certain kinds of information from the public? What other scenarios can you imagine for providing access without causing undue harm?

Relevant readings and slides to support your discussion can be found on Blackboard Week 9, 10 and 11

Deadline: Thursday April 4th 2019

Length: 800 words

Format: Blog post on Medium

Grading Rubrics: see Syllabus