Requirements for Open Political Information: Transparency Beyond Open Data

TL;DR

This paper explores the limitations of open government data in fostering political transparency, emphasizing the need for accessible information systems tailored to diverse user needs.

Contribution

It identifies key requirements for a political information system that enhances transparency beyond just open data, based on stakeholder interviews.

Findings

Stakeholders desire more accessible political information.

Technical barriers limit public engagement with open data.

Foundational requirements for effective political information systems are proposed.

Abstract

A politically informed citizenry is imperative for a welldeveloped democracy. While the US government has pursued policies for open data, these efforts have been insufficient in achieving an open government because only people with technical and domain knowledge can access information in the data. In this work, we conduct user interviews to identify wants and needs among stakeholders. We further use this information to sketch out the foundational requirements for a functional political information technical system.