As government agencies try to use databases to solve serious policy issues such as curbing prescription drug abuse and improving student education, they find themselves fighting political battles rather than technological ones, writes Daniel Castro in Government Technology. One might reasonably hope that once a policy decision has been made through the legislative or regulatory process, implementing it would be fairly straightforward. But in reality the political process carries on, and government databases have become a popular battleground, especially since accusations about privacy and security risks can quickly galvanize public opposition. There’s not a simple solution to this problem, as it is naïve to suggest that we can take politics out of public-sector projects. However, obstructionist politics—whether driven by affected industries, privacy absolutists or other forces—is now a problem not just for state legislators, but also state CIOs. The states that find the best strategies for dealing with this challenge may be poised to lead the next era of e-government.
