Openness and Fairness in the Digital Ecosystem: on the Participation Gap in Cultural Knowledge Production

Abstract

Since the early 2000s, the open knowledge movement has created a fertile ground for democratising access to and production of knowledge. However, emerging digital media technologies have brought challenges that need to be addressed when evaluating the potential for openness for democratic knowledge production and participation. Despite increased attempts to involve the public in cultural knowledge production, the participation gap remains wide, as barriers have been identified to prevent people from (re)using cultural heritage collections. In addition, social media platforms do not seem to stand up to their promise of providing participatory culture in open and fair forms. These large-scale commercial platforms have acquired monopolistic tactics by having control over the digital ecosystem and ultimately, are monopolising cultural knowledge production. The first research question of this doctoral study looks at the conditions of the openness of cultural data. The second concerns the resources that are required for opening up knowledge in an equitable and participatory way in the digital economy. The methodology of the doctoral work is qualitative, combining expert interviews, observations and Grounded Theory approaches. The findings of this research propose moving away from obfuscate practices and/or digital “gatekeepers”. Through my thesis, I propose a knowledge stewardship model, which can be used in two ways: a) within a participatory stewardship framework and b) within a collective approach to knowledge stewardship, fostering the public’s meaningful participation in the production of cultural heritage knowledge through open and fair ways. In this way, cultural heritage institutions can renegotiate their relationship with communities in the digital era and tap into their potential for social value and their impact on civic welfare.