Open data work for empowered deliberative democracy: Findings from a living lab study

Abstract

Open government data have the potential to facilitate democratic debate and collaboration between government and citizens. This assumes that citizens can effectively use data. However, not all citizens possess these skills. Building on the Empowered Deliberative Democracy Framework, this study examined how open data work - a variety of interventions and activities facilitated by intermediaries - can foster inclusive democratic processes at the local level by using a living lab methodology. Our living lab took place in a vulnerable neighborhood in a city in the Netherlands. Our findings demonstrate that open data work for empowered deliberative democracy requires enhancing the community's awareness and capacity for interpreting and using data about local problems and enabling them to engage in a process of joint learning and deliberation with data intermediaries, government, and other stakeholders.