IDPM Working papers
This Working Paper is part of the iGovernment Working Papers series
Government Data: Understanding the Barriers to Citizen Access and Use
Richard Heeks
Abstract
In almost every country in the world, government remains the single largest repository of data. It stores data on a vast array of topics; data that can be of immense value not just to organisations but also to individual citizens. That value may be economic - helping citizens improve their employment or income-generation potential - or it can be personal/social - helping the citizen to improve their home or community.
Citizen access to government data can therefore be seen as an important component of both economic and social development. Yet that access can be a problematic process. This paper analyses the barriers that need to be understood and addressed if citizen access to government data is to become a more widespread reality. It starts by recognising that, for individuals to access the data that is held about them or other public sector data, two groups of resources must be available: the data itself, and the other resources - particularly technology - to access that data.
Freedom of information legislation is reviewed, but appears to have had a relatively limited effect on citizen access. Finally, a model of both access and use is presented that helps to understand the broad range of factors that affect the interaction between citizens and government data.
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