Data literacy in the smart city: why Smart cities should be populated by MIL Citizens.

Abstract

Smart Cities typify the current and future data-rich environments. In these types of environments, technology and the analysis of vast data facilitate more intelligent choices and actions—largely automated using algorithms and artificial intelligence—related to mobility, security, energy use, culture, markets, etc. (Ballon, van der Graaf, & Walravens, 2017). A discussion on the necessity of data literacy has emerged from debates on datafication, big data, open data, artificial intelligence, and algorithms. The question, however, lies on the relation between media and data literacy. In this contribution, we reflect on aspects of data literacy by examining the literature on smart cities and data in smart cities. We argue that smart cities are not automatically media and information-literate cities. Furthermore, smart cities can only become media and information-literate cities by actively developing an open data context, involving citizens in data projects, empowering civil society participation, and stimulating data literacy in a broad sense.