- 16/03/2016
- Category: Commentaries
The phenomenon of Open data, or also known as Big Data, has been quite a talk within the study of digital age for the past 5 years. Several countries have begun putting high concerns for such phenomenon. Benefits and significant impact generated by open data is becoming the penultimate reason for its rapid development most recently. However, what is open data really about?
The Open Data Handbook defines open data as a group of datasets that is accessible, usable, re-usable, and distributable for free. The so called accessible datasets should also be presented in certain formats that enable everyone to use and distribute them for many more purposes. The datasets presented should also not be a subject of patent and copy right claims.[1] Open data can be initiated and managed by government in multiple levels (national, regional or city governments), as well as private sectors and individuals. The open data that is managed by government officials is known as open government data. [2] Open government data has been widely developed by many countries, especially the United States with its data.gov and the United Kingdom with its data.gov.uk; the two that leads the open data race. Open government data, in one place, is more of a projection of Open Government Partnership (OGP), an initiation pledged to promote open governments with the spirit of openness and transparency, citizen empowerment, the fight of corruption, as well as the utilization of technology in the establishment of more open and efficient government. [3]
Open data in no doubt brings many benefits and significant impacts, be it in social-political sphere, or in the economic one. The socio-political impact of open data is, as mentioned and promoted by the Open Government partnership, the establishment of open government based on values of transparency and openness for the betterment of the government. Moreover, open data also stands as prominent catalyst in the growth of smart cities in the future. [4] Open data also tangs along viable economic significances. The new way of job creation is one of the start of economic impacts. Innovations are easily triggered and sparked by more available data. [5] The European Commission predicts that open data can help Europe saving more than 1.75 million euros in 2020. Economic values of more than 75.5 million euros in 2020 will also take toll as another economic impact brought by open data. [6] McKinsey Global Institute, in 2013, also predicted that open data can help bring more than 3 trillion dollars in annual revenues to the world, or about 4.1% of the world’s GDP. [7] The United Kingdom, in particular, will also enjoy about 10.8 million pound of economic revenue generated by open data. [8]
Indonesia, amidst that, has been showing strong commitment by launching data.id, the first open government data platform of the country. The page provides wide range of data from various category, such as education, economy, and agriculture. The launch of the website was a mere translation of the country’s commitment as the leader of the world-wide association of Open Government Partnership (OGP). [9] Before that, in 2011, Indonesia also established the Open Government Indonesia, under the coordination of President’s Task Unit of Evaluation and Development Management as the concrete effort to put the pledge of the country to establish open government in line with the spirit open data. just recently, the government of Indonesia released a transparent report on regional government’s performances and accountability. The step was taken to promote more accountability and openness of regional government, as well as to promote more efficiency and the betterment of government’s performance in general. [10] The commitment of the country is not only reflected in the national level, but also in the regional level, as more regional government practices open data. Jakarta, for example, also establishes open data platform in data.jakarta.go.id, titled Jakarta OpenData, and becomes the first and only regional government to do so. The quite similar step was also taken by Bandung and Bojonegoro governments, as they strived more to champion their smart city initiatives. [11]
If we delve deeper into it, Indonesia is already on the correct path. However, if we compare with other country’s development of open government data, Indonesia is more on the least developed one. For example, the number of datasets published by the data.id is about 1000 datasets, and the number of datasets published by data.jakarta.go.is is accounting to about 658 datasets. This numbers are considered low if we contextualize it with the geographical area and number of population of the country, as there should be more datasets produced. For comparison, the United States’ data.gov has more than 190.000 datasets, and the number is continuously growing. The number of datasets is undoubtedly important to measure socio-political and economic benefits that can be generated. More and more countries that claim to be able to take many advantages from open data might be able to do so due to the large number of datasets available in their turf of open data. if Indonesia desires the benefits, there seems to be a lot to work on. However, it is indeed a bit harsh to not consider a lot of impediments the country has in many ways that directly or indirectly affect the efficacy of open data development in the country. The lack of infrastructure and resources indeed remains as paramount issue in term of digital development. Creating holistic open data ecosystem is undeniably difficult to even begin with in the country with so many more grass-root problems (poverty, economic gap, and the likes) to deal with. Digital divide that exists among social classes in the country also makes the job even more difficult. The important thing to bear in mind is recognizing the initial step taken by the government to solemnly pledge themselves on developing open data. A lot of improvements are definitely visible, compared to what was going in 5 years ago. No matter what, Indonesia is on its way, as long as the country is able to maintain its progressive efforts and stick to the commitment it swore two years ago.
[1] The Open Data Handbook, What is Open Data, diakses dari <http://opendatahandbook.org/guide/en/what-is-open-data/>
[2] The World Bank, Open data Essentials, diakses dari
[3] Open Government Partnership, About, diakses dari
[4] David Roe, “Open Data Will Fuel Growth of Smart Cities”, CMSWire, 16 Februari 2016, diakses dari <http://www.cmswire.com/internet-of-things/open-data-will-fuel-growth-of-smart-cities/>
[5] DJ Patil dan Ian Kalin, ‘Open Data can Transform Job Training and Decision Making Too’, The Huffington Post, 3 Maret 2016, diakses dari < http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dj-patil/open-data-can-transform-j_b_9375960.html>
[6] Paul McDonnell, ‘Europe Needs to Get Serious about Open Data’, Euractiv, 4 Maret 2016, diakses dari < https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/opinion/europe-needs-to-get-serious-about-open-data/>
[7] McKinsey Global Institute, Open Data: Unlocking Innovation and Performance with Liquid Information, 2013,
[8] Jani Tennison, ‘The Economic Impact of Open Data: What Do We already Know?”, The Huffington Post, 2 November 2015, diakses dari < http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/jeni-tennison/economic-impact-of-open-data_b_8434234.html>
[9] Tama Salim, ‘Government Joins Open Data Project’, The Jakarta Post, 9 September 2014, diakses dari < http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/09/09/government-joins-open-data-project.html>
[10] Medha Basu, ‘Indonesia releases government performance data’ GovInsider, 19 februari 2016, diakses dari < https://govinsider.asia/inclusive-gov/indonesia-releases-government-performance-data/>
[11] The World Bank, Indonesia’s Government and Civil Society in Partnership to Encourage Greater Data Transparency, 5 September 2014, diakses dari < http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2014/09/05/indonesia-government-and-civil-society-in-partnership-to-encourage-greater-data-transparency>
