Exploring the tension between transparency and datification effects of open government IS through the lens of Complex Adaptive Systems.

•Open government IS are theorized using Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS).•Insights are drawn from a case study of an open government IS in Australia.•Tension between transparency and datification effects is non-linear and unavoidable.•We theorize seven datification patterns and discuss their societal effects.•We discuss important strategic implications of open government IS.