Citizen Access and Use of Government Data: Understanding the Barriers

Abstract

Government data has a value to 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 chapter, therefore, analyses the barriers that need to be understood and addressed if citizen access to government data is to become a more widespread reality.