Ethical concerns of open government data

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to investigate the ethical challenges associated with open government data (OGD) initiatives. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review (SLR) based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 protocol was adopted to synthesize peer-reviewed and grey literature on ethical issues in OGD. The SLR is augmented by an illustrative analysis of real-world examples drawn from the synthesized literature, serving to demonstrate practical manifestations of ethical dilemmas. Findings The study identifies four primary ethical domains in OGD ecosystems: privacy risks, data misuse, digital inequality and environmental sustainability. It reveals that technical safeguards like anonymization are often insufficient against re-identification threats. Real-world examples highlight how public–private data synergies contribute to surveillance and systemic bias, particularly in predictive policing and healthcare systems. In addition, unequal access to data resources exacerbates the digital divide, and environmental impacts of data-intensive technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence training are emphasized. Practical implications The study proposes a set of policy and practical interventions including differential privacy mandates, algorithmic accountability frameworks, community-centered data literacy programs and energy-efficient data infrastructure guidelines. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by developing a comprehensive ethical taxonomy for OGD by integrating normative ethical theories.