Meaning of Government's Open Data

Government's open data means

Data produced or commissioned by government or government controlled entities
Data which is open as defined in the Open Definition– that is, it can be freely used, reused and redistributed by anyone.

The Main Reason Government Data Should Be Open

Why should government data be open? There are three main reasons:

Transparency. In a well-functioning, democratic society citizens need to know what their government is doing. To do that, they must be able freely to access government data and information and to share that information with other citizens. Transparency isn’t just about access, it is also about sharing and reuse often.
Releasing social and commercial value. In a digital age, data is a key resource for social and commercial activities. By opening up data, government can help drive the creation of innovative business and services that deliver social and commercial value.
Participatory Governance. Kebanyakan rakyat hanya mampu melibatkan diri dengan kerjaaan sekali-sekala, atau mungkin hanya ketika pilihan raya. Dengan data terbuka, rakyat mudah untuk berurusan secara langsung, memudahkan membuat keputusan serta dapat menyumbang kembali kepada kerajaan.