At Gov2.0 this week, I gave a talk on the importance of information literacy when addressing transparency of government data:
I address everything from registered sex offenders to what happens when politicians don’t like data to the complexities of interpretation. In doing so, I make three key points:
- Information is power, but interpretation is more powerful
- Data taken out of context can have unintended consequences
- Transparency alone is not the great equalizer
My talk is also available on YouTube if you prefer to listen to a different version of the same message (since my crib is what I intended to say and the video is what actually came out of my mouth).
I think Prof. Larry Lessig has mentioned similar opinions with regard to governmental transparency, in connection to systemic corruption. I think its part of his philosophy with Change Congress.
Is there significant differences and/or similarities between your stance on transparency and Lessig’s?
Transparency means context, not just data @dan_munz
Hi Danah,
Great talk at Gov 2.0 Expo! Don’t tell the other presenters, but it was actually my favorite. 🙂 You drove home several points that I have been thinking about over the last few months as I’ve watched Open Gov evolve.
In fact, I was on a plane from Chicago to DC the night before and my seat-mate was telling me about a software that he developed that could monitor and analyze shopper behavior by using the data from security cameras that are installed in most retail stores. When I asked him *who* would conduct the analysis, he replied: “No one. The software does it automatically.”
Seriously?
“Yes.”
I wish I would have grabbed his card…I would have pointed him to your talk!
I loved your speech, and the principle that “transparency is not enough”, but interpretation skills are needed.
Following this, what is your opinion about the Wikileaks issues? I believe is something more than just “freedom of expression” against “hiding hideous government secrets”.