Public values in the age of big data: a public information perspective

Public administration scholars have so far largely viewed big data as a kind of technocratic transformation. This leaves the picture of transformation incomplete because technocratic reform values tend to be in tension with... [ view full abstract ]

Public administration scholars have so far largely viewed big data as a kind of technocratic transformation. This leaves the picture of transformation incomplete because technocratic reform values tend to be in tension with citizen values such as political participation and deliberation. Big data, however, also gives policymakers insights into citizen interests and preferences and is therefore potentially supportive of greater citizen representation. In this paper, we figure citizen values alongside technocratic values by developing a public values framework for big data. Arguments are developed using scholarly literature on public values, and the currently stated goals of using big data in the public sector are analysed to theorise about underlying public values. We then take the specific case of public information agencies. We focus on two underexplored countries, Germany and The Netherlands. We examine what function these agencies play, whether they experience big data public values tensions and what the outcomes are for public values.