Digital governance and transparency: How open data initiatives enhance government accountability

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Abstract

This study explores the nexus between digital governance and transparency in Indonesia, emphasizing the impact of open data initiatives on strengthening governmental accountability. It aims to evaluate how effectively these initiatives foster public trust and contribute to more efficient governance. Employing a qualitative research design, the study utilizes case studies of open data programs implemented across various government institutions. Data collection involved document analysis, in-depth interviews, and public questionnaires to assess citizen perceptions and engagement with open data platforms. The results suggest that open data significantly enhances transparency and facilitates public oversight of government activities, aligning with global observations that open data fosters participatory governance (Janssen et al., 2012). The availability of real-time, accessible information empowers citizens to monitor government actions actively and promotes civic involvement (Zuiderwijk & Janssen, 2014). However, challenges such as inconsistent data quality, limited digital literacy, and bureaucratic resistance remain critical obstacles to maximizing the impact of these initiatives. Moreover, this paper contributes to the growing body of literature on digital governance by presenting empirical insights from Indonesia, an understudied context in open data research. It underscores the transformative potential of open data in promoting transparency and offers policy recommendations to strengthen implementation frameworks, thus advancing more accountable and citizen-centric governance.

Keywords: Administrative Processes in Public Organizations, Information and Internet Services, Performance of Government, Public Sector Accountability, Technological Change

Authors’ individual contribution: The Author is responsible for all the contributions to the paper according to CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) standards.

Declaration of conflicting interests: The Author declares that there is no conflict of interest.

JEL Classification: D73, H83, O33

Received: 16.12.2024
Revised: 26.03.2025; 22.08.2025
Accepted: 29.08.2025
Published online: 02.09.2025

How to cite this paper: Hidayat, R. (2025). Digital governance and transparency: How open data initiatives enhance government accountability. Journal of Governance & Regulation, 14(3), 194–204. https://doi.org/10.22495/jgrv14i3art18