Affiliations: [a] Information Policy & Access Center, University of
Maryland, College Park, MD, USA | [b] Korea Institute for Science & Technology
Information, Daejeon, Korea | Faculty of Business Administration, Information
Systems Department, Université Laval, PQ, Canada | Fundacion Universidad de las Americas Puebla, Business
School, Santa Catarina Martir, San Andres Cholula, Puebla, Mexico | Graduate School of Management, Clark University,
Worcester, MA, USA
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: John Carlo Bertot, 4105 Hornbake Building,
South Wing, College of Information Studies, University of Maryland, College
Park, MD 20742, USA. Tel.: +1 301 405 3267; Fax: +1 301 314 9145; E-mail:
jbertot@umd.edu
Abstract: The transformative promises and potential of Big and Open Data are
substantial for e-government services, openness and transparency, governments,
and the interaction between governments, citizens, and the business sector.
From "smart" government to transformational government, Big and Open Data can
foster collaboration; create real-time solutions to challenges in agriculture,
health, transportation, and more; promote greater openness; and usher in a new
era of policy- and decision-making. There are, however, a range of policy
challenges to address regarding Big and Open Data, including access and
dissemination; digital asset management, archiving and preservation; privacy;
and security. After presenting a discussion of the open data policies that
serve as a foundation for Big Data initiatives, this paper examines the ways in
which the current information policy framework fails to address a number of
these policy challenges. It then offers recommendations intended to serve as a
beginning point for a revised policy framework to address significant issues
raised by the U.S. government's engagement in Big Data efforts.
