While numerous platforms have been developed to support climate action, structured evaluations of their design remain limited. This paper presents a novel assessment framework for evaluating climate change mitigation and adaptation policy platforms. The framework includes 43 criteria that are structured around nine design requirement categories, including transparency, ease of use, interactivity, and accessibility. It is applied to ten policy platforms developed under the EU Horizon 2020 programme. Results show that while most of the examined platforms perform strongly in transparency, communication of complex information, and education, they consistently underperform in areas such as active maintenance, security, and accessibility. These findings highlight key areas for improvement by platform developers and funders. In parallel, they demonstrate the framework's flexibility and value as both an evaluation tool and a design guide for future platforms.

Research on the potential use of ChatGPT for anonymizing texts in government organizations is scarce. This study examines the possibilities, risks, and ethical implications for government organizations to use ChatGPT in the anonymization of personal data in text documents. It adopts a case-study research approach, including informal conversations, formal interviews, literature review, document analysis, and experiments. The experiments using three types of texts demonstrate ChatGPT’s proficiency in anonymizing diverse textual content. Furthermore, the study provides an overview of significant risks and ethical considerations pertinent to ChatGPT’s use for text anonymization within government organizations, related to themes such as privacy, responsibility, transparency, bias, human intervention, and sustainability. The current form of ChatGPT stores and forwards inputs to OpenAI and potentially other parties, posing an unacceptable risk when anonymizing texts containing personal data. We discuss several potential solutions to address these risks and ethical issues. This study contributes to the scarce scientific literature on the potential value of employing ChatGPT for text anonymization in government settings. It also offers practical insights for civil servants coping with the challenges of personal data anonymization, emphasizing the need for the cautious consideration of risks and ethical implications in the integration of AI technologies.

To understand how open research data sharing and reuse can be further improved in the field of Epidemiology, this study explores the facilitating role that infrastructural and institutional arrangements play in this research discipline. It addresses two research questions: 1) What influence do infrastructural and institutional arrangements have on open research data sharing and reuse practices in the field of Epidemiology? And 2) how could infrastructural and institutional instruments used in Epidemiology potentially be useful to other research disciplines? First, based on a systematic literature review, a conceptual framework of infrastructural and institutional instruments for open research data facilitation is developed. Second, the conceptual framework is applied in interviews with Epidemiology researchers. The interviews show that two infrastructural and institutional instruments have a very high influence on open research data sharing and reuse practices in the field of Epidemiology, namely (a) access to a powerful search engine that meets open data search needs and (b) support by data stewards and data managers. Third, infrastructural and institutional instruments with a medium, high, or very high influence were discussed in a research workshop involving data stewards and research data officers from different research fields. This workshop suggests that none of the influential instruments identified in the interviews are specific to Epidemiology. Some of our findings thus seem to apply to multiple other disciplines. This study contributes to Science by identifying field-specific facilitators and challenges for open research data in Epidemiology, while at the same time revealing that none of the identified influential infrastructural and institutional instruments were specific to this field. Practically, this implies that open data infrastructure developers, policymakers, and research funding organizations may apply certain infrastructural and institutional arrangements to multiple research disciplines to facilitate and enhance open research data sharing and reuse.

The global initiative supporting open government data (OGD) has witnessed significant strides in the last decade. This study delves into the prospective integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Hippolyta, a framework meticulously crafted to amplify the interpretability of government data. The aim is to scrutinize the viability of this integration, conducting a technical investigation in the realms of open government data and artificial intelligence. In contributing to the expansive field of OGD, this research focuses on elucidating the interpretability of data originating from governmental sources. Through an exploration of the technical feasibility surrounding the fusion of AI with Hippolyta, we aim to pave the path for advancements, fostering heightened interpretability and overarching enhancements in the understanding of government data.

There is a lack of understanding of the elements that constitute different types of value-adding public data ecosystems and how these elements form and shape the development of these ecosystems over time, which can lead to misguided efforts to develop future public data ecosystems. The aim of the study is twofold: (1) to explore how public data ecosystems have developed over time and (2) to identify the value-adding elements and formative characteristics of public data ecosystems. Using an exploratory retrospective analysis and a deductive approach, we systematically review 148 studies published between 1994 and 2023. Based on the results, this study presents a typology of public data ecosystems and develops a conceptual model of elements and formative characteristics that contribute most to value-adding public data ecosystems. Moreover, this study develops a conceptual model of the evolutionary generation of public data ecosystems represented by six generations that differ in terms of (a) components and relationships, (b) stakeholders, (c) actors and their roles, (d) data types, (e) processes and activities, and (f) data lifecycle phases. Finally, three avenues for a future research agenda are proposed. This study is relevant for practitioners suggesting what elements of public data ecosystems have the most potential to generate value and should thus be part of public data ecosystems. As a scientific contribution, this study integrates conceptual knowledge about the elements of public data ecosystems, the evolution of these ecosystems, defines a future research agenda, and thereby moves towards defining public data ecosystems of the new generation.

Despite an increasing interest in the strategies to promote open data use in recent years, there has been a substantial lack of empirical and theoretical analysis of the governance modes that favored different types of open data initiatives. To address this gap, this study asks: How do governance modes support open data sharing in open government data platforms? To answer this question, we assess the coherence of the open data governance contexts of France and Ireland when sharing data on open government data platforms during the Covid-19 crisis. The study uses a multi-method approach involving both interviews with experts, identified through purposive sampling, and secondary sources for triangulation purposes. Overall, the governance context supported open data sharing in France and Ireland. Both cases are characterized by a strong central coordination with a solid trust relationship and clear legal frameworks. France, more than Ireland, relied on a market governance mode, and Ireland scored higher in networked governance due to the creation of social capital. The results provide new insights on how to combine governance modes that support open government data initiatives through coordination, collaboration with the private sector, and involvement of different actors. Practitioners can use our insights as examples of governance strategies that are fit for events that need a timely open data response.

This paper introduces systems theory and system safety concepts to ongoing academic debates about the safety of Machine Learning (ML) systems in the public sector. In particular, we analyze the risk factors of ML systems and their respective institutional context, which impact the ability to control such systems. We use interview data to abductively show what risk factors of such systems are present in public professionals' perceptions and what factors are expected based on systems theory but are missing. Based on the hypothesis that ML systems are best addressed with a systems theory lens, we argue that the missing factors deserve greater attention in ongoing efforts to address ML systems safety. These factors include the explication of safety goals and constraints, the inclusion of systemic factors in system design, the development of safety control structures, and the tendency of ML systems to migrate towards higher risk. Our observations support the hypothesis that ML systems can be best regarded through a systems theory lens. Therefore, we conclude that system safety concepts can be useful aids for policymakers who aim to improve ML system safety.

In the data economy, data sovereignty is often conceptualized as data providers’ ability to control their shared data. While control is essential, the current literature overlooks how this facet interrelates with other sovereignty facets and contextual conditions. Drawing from social contract theory and insights from 31 expert interviews, we propose a data sovereignty conceptual framework encompassing protection, participation, and provision facets. The protection facets establish data sharing foundations by emphasizing baseline rights, such as data ownership. Building on this foundation, the participation facet, through responsibility divisions, steers the provision facets. Provision comprises facets such as control, security, and compliance mechanisms, thus ensuring that foundational rights are preserved during and after data sharing. Contextual conditions (data type, organizational size, and business data sharing setting) determine the level of difficulty in realizing sovereignty facets. For instance, if personal data is shared, privacy becomes a relevant protection facet, leading to challenges of ownership between data providers and data subjects, compliance demands, and control enforcement. Our novel conceptualization paves the way for coherent and comprehensive theory development concerning data sovereignty as a complex, multi-faceted construct.

Investigating meta-platforms has been a continuing concern within information system literature due to the increasingly complex constellations of platforms in ecologies of ecosystems. A meta-platform is a platform built on top of two or more platforms, hence connecting their respective ecosystems. One promising case to benefit from meta-platforms is data marketplaces: a particular type of platform that facilitates responsible (personal and non-personal) data sharing among companies. Given that business models for meta-platforms are largely unexplored in this emerging case, how they can create value for data marketplaces remain speculative. As a starting point toward business model investigations, this paper explores value creation of a meta-platform in the case of data marketplaces. We interviewed fourteen data-sharing consultants and six meta-platform experts. We identify three potential value creation archetypes of a meta-platform. The discovery aggregator archetype emphasizes searching and dispatching value, while the brokerage one focuses on promoting and supporting value. Finally, the one-stop-shop archetype creates value by standardizing, regulating, sharing, and experimenting. This study is among the first that explore value creation archetypes for a meta-platform, thus identifying core value as a base for further business model investigations.

Open government data initiatives have been rising quickly in recent times. They are encouraged by a wish to democratize data access and knowledge production and enhance cities socially and economically. The hardship of interpreting data can be considered an obstacle to using open government data and more prominent citizen engagement. Technology is crucial to enhance data interpretability and the practical construction of an open government. Nevertheless, the literature needed an instrument to support open government data's interpretability. In this work, our primary goal is to present the definition, implementation, and evaluation of a framework named Hippolyta, which is qualified to help citizens to interpret open government data. Hippolyta first identifies the citizen's necessities using a semantic enrichment module. After this step, the framework conducts the data collection through the same data retrieval module. Finally, Hippolyta creates a graphic visualization through a data visualization module. This study is relevant since it furnishes comprehensive insights into what the open data interpretability concept is composed of and which framework modules can sustain open data interpretation.

The landscape of platform ecosystems is becoming increasingly complex, with new types of platforms emerging that glue together otherwise fragmented ecosystems. One recent case is metaplatforms that can contribute to the European Data Economy by interconnecting data marketplaces; however, meta-platforms may intensify data sovereignty concerns: the inability of data providers to own and control the exchanged data. While smart contracts and certification can generally enhance data sovereignty, it is unknown whether data providers perceive these control mechanisms as valuable in the complex meta-platform setting. This study aims to evaluate the perceived efficacy of the control mechanisms to ensure data sovereignty in meta-platforms. The findings from a survey study (n=93) indicate that respondents perceive high data sovereignty. One potential explanation is that smart contracts can potentially enable providers to maintain ownership and control over their exchanged data; meanwhile, certification may signal metaplatforms’ responsibility to deliver secure data exchange infrastructure and assist providers in adhering to relevant regulations. This study contributes to advancing design knowledge for meta-platforms, showcasing that meta-platforms can be designed in a way to resolve fragmentation without neglecting data sovereignty principles.

The complex societal problems that we face today require unprecedented collaboration and evidence-based decisions. These collaboration processes are further propelled by the datafication of virtually all spheres of public life. To benefit from this, the data needs to be made available to allow for data analytics. Thus, data sharing becomes a crucial aspect of cross-sector collaborations that aim to create and capture value from information. Compared to collaborations where data sharing is not the main goal, data sharing partnerships face a number of novel challenges, such as mitigating data risks, complying with data protection legislation, and ensuring responsible data use. Navigating these waters and achieving data sharing can be challenging for both governments and businesses, as well as other actors. How do organizations from different sectors manage to achieve data sharing for addressing societal challenges? To address this research question, we apply a framework of three models of cross sector social partnerships developed in the field of organization studies to structure the analysis of six cases. Our analysis suggests that to a certain extent the partnership model determines the types of drivers and challenges to sharing data in a partnership. Leveraging the drivers and anticipating these challenges can help organizations be more aware of key terms of the collaboration and the mechanisms that can be used to succeed in their partnership goals.

Engineers require high-quality data for the design and implementation of today's software, especially in the context of machine learning (ML). This puts an emphasis on the need for the publication and sharing of data from and between organizations, public as well as private. Following the paradigm of open innovation, open data provide a mechanism to increase the availability of information, offering utility and improving innovation and user choice through the inevitable interoperability this enables.

Government policies focused on Open Government Data (OGD) often aim to stimulate the provision of public, interoperable data towards any user, including lay citizens, through online portals. However, these OGD portals are mostly developed for expert users. This hinders the realization of critical values such as transparency, empowerment, and equality of access. Following a Design Science Research approach, this study aims to examine how gamification can help tailor OGD portals for lay citizens. As a pre-condition to this goal, we identify requirements toward OGD portals through twenty interviews with experts and lay citizens. Compared to expert users, lay citizens expect an OGD portal with a more playful interface, vulgarized content, customized visualizations, and transparency-related datasets in a human-readable format. Second, we develop our research artifact, the OGD portal prototype, implementing fifteen design propositions using gamification theory to address lay citizens’ requirements. Third, the evaluation with ten lay citizens reveals the perceived usefulness of the design propositions. Badges were evaluated as most useful to highlight portal relevance. This study contributes to OGD theory development by identifying lay citizens' requirements towards OGD use. Furthermore, this study is the first to reveal the usefulness of implementing notions from gamification theory into OGD portal design. Finally, practitioners can use our findings to make OGD portals more inclusive and thus contribute to attaining key OGD policy objectives.

This study investigates which combination of institutional and infrastructural arrangements positively impact research data sharing and reuse in a specific case. We conducted a qualitative case study of the institutional and infrastructural arrangements implemented at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. In the examined case, it was fundamental to change the mindset of researchers and to make them aware of the benefits of sharing data. Therefore, arrangements should be designed bottom-up and used as a “carrot” rather than as a “stick.” Moreover, support offered to researchers should cover at least legal, financial, administrative, and practical issues of research data management and should be informal in nature. Previous research describes generic institutional and infrastructural instruments that can stimulate open research data sharing and reuse. This study is among the first to analyze what and how infrastructural and institutional arrangements work in a particular context. It provides the basis for other scholars to study such arrangements in different contexts. Open data policymakers, universities, and open data infrastructure providers can use our findings to stimulate data sharing and reuse in practice, adapted to the contextual situation. Our study focused on a single case and a particular part of the university. We recommend repeating this research in other contexts, that is, at other universities, faculties, and involving other research data infrastructure providers.

Non-profit organisations (NPOs) are one type of open data intermediaries connecting different actors in the open data ecosystem. They perform a number of activities, from requesting the government to open up the data to application development. Such activities can have an effect on open data usability barriers that other actors in the open data ecosystem encounter. The objective of this study is to systematically review the literature on the influence of NPOs' activities on the usability barriers for open data users in the open data ecosystem. The authors identified and analysed fourteen relevant papers. This study shows that NPOs conduct various activities that relate to different intermediary roles in the open data ecosystem, which in turn can affect certain usability barriers. Moreover, NPOs may perform different activities depending on the type of open data they work with. However, the connection between the activities and open data usability barriers for open data users cannot be clearly established from the selected articles, as most of them do not focus on establishing such a link. This review highlights a literature gap in relation to NPOs' activities and their effects on open data usability.

Government policies focused on Open Government Data (OGD) often aim to stimulate the provision of public, interoperable data towards any user, including lay citizens, through online portals. However, these OGD portals are primarily developed for expert users. This hinders the realization of transparency, empowerment, and equality of access. This system demonstration paper presents GamOGD, an OGD portal prototype tailored to lay citizens that implements fifteen gamification design propositions.