Open Data: More Than Just Publishing Data.

What do we understand by open data?

Considering the various interpretations that exist regarding the concept of open data, we can say that, to a greater or lesser extent, they define open data as data published under certain technical (machine-readable) and legal (having a license that allows free use, reuse, and dissemination) characteristics.

However, beyond this concept, open data initiatives are not limited to the act of publishing data, nor should that be understood as their ultimate goal. On the contrary, publishing data is just a starting point, considering that the value is generated from the use and reuse of data.

Historically, the promotion of open data has followed an approach that prioritizes opening from the supply, with a focus on transparency in access to information. This perspective, however, has expanded over time, and currently open data aligns not only with principles that guarantee its quality, relevance, and accessibility but also with those that ensure its role as a tool for innovation and knowledge promotion.

Open Data by Default or Open Data with Purpose?

As part of the evolution that open data has experienced and in light of the need for open data to act as a driver of innovation and development, a dilemma arises between “open data by default” and “open data with purpose.” Although these may be considered opposing concepts, in practice, it has been evident that they are not so.

The process before opening data, especially for governments, can be a journey that, although necessary, can become extremely complex, requiring a significant investment of time and resources from the public sector. Therefore, when data is finally published, it tends to be considered the ultimate goal of open data, rather than the starting point of what open data actually represents.

An alternative to address this issue is to focus the opening efforts on strategic databases that have greater possibilities to be used and reused. For this, the “open data with purpose” approach represents an opportunity to determine priority over data that has the potential to generate value from a demand-oriented perspective.

This should not exclude the need to keep working towards an open-by-default data scheme, which, being a broader concept, also encompasses a higher goal of the open data agenda, as mentioned by the Open Data Charter (ODC) through principle number 1 that governs open data:

“Open by default: This represents a real shift in how government operates and how it interacts with citizens. At the moment we often have to ask officials for the specific information we want. Open by default turns this on its head and says that there should be a presumption of publication for all.”

How to open data under a purpose approach?

According to the report “OURdata Index – Open, Useful, and Re-usable Data Index” published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), South Korea is again ranked as the country with the best score in 2023, having previously achieved this position in 2015, 2017, and 2019.

This index evaluates the efforts made by governments to design and implement national open data policies in the government, considering three fundamental variables: i) Data Availability; ii) Accessibility; and iii) Government support for data reuse.

Why is South Korea a leader in open data management?

To understand the South Korean case, it is necessary to analyze its governance structure for open data. Since 2013, South Korea has had a Strategic Council for Open Data, which is co-led by the country’s Prime Minister and an expert from the private sector. In addition, 50% of the members of this council belong to the private sector, to effectively capture data required by industries, businesses, and ventures in this country, as well as civil society.

South Korea has also invested for several years in an initiative called the “National Core Data Project.” Through this project, mechanisms are established to determine those high-priority databases that should be opened. Until 2024, South Korea’s open data portal reflects the existence of 158 open databases under this initiative, always considering the needs of the private sector and civil society. In addition.

Moreover, between 2013 and 2020, the number of downloads of open databases in this country has multiplied by 814, going from around 13 thousand downloads in 2013 to more than 12 million downloads in 2020 according to the National Information Society Agency, highlighting the importance that the promotion of data use and reuse has from the Korean perspective.

The case is an example for the world of how the correct institutional arrangements and a governance scheme can enhance efficiency in data opening under an approach that also considers demand.

Better governance for better open data!

Latin America and the Caribbean have made significant progress in promoting open data, but there are still areas for improvement, particularly in strengthening governance and institutional arrangements that promote this agenda.

While tools have been developed to support countries in the region in generating Data Strategies or fostering their flows, learning from international experiences can provide valuable insights to optimize efforts generated at the institutional level. The role of the private sector will be fundamental to address an opening approach from demand, allowing this sector to participate in decision-making about which data should be opened.

The necessary governance for open data requires robust institutional arrangements that cut across different levels and government agencies. This implies interinstitutional coordination to establish policies on how data will be opened, ensuring quality, relevance, and timeliness for its use and reuse.

Additionally, it is important to identify the intra-institutional problems that government agencies face for this purpose. Understanding what data is being produced, who is producing it, how is it being generated, and where it is stored, represents a significant step in achieving an efficient data opening.

Understanding open data as a process that does not end with the act of publishing data but gives equal importance to the strategy to promote its use and reuse once published will allow an efficient governance perspective to this agenda. For Latin America and the Caribbean, this can be a breaking point in the possibilities the region has to extract the potential value that its data holds and that, derived from its proper use, serves as a catalyst for development for all citizens in the region.