Dr. Tracey P. Lauriault's keynote at CASRAI Reconnect 16 explores the intersection of research data management, citizenship, and democracy in a technology-driven society. She argues for the necessity of data literacy and the role of technological experts in empowering citizens to engage with complex socio-technical systems, advocating for better governance and accessibility to data. The presentation emphasizes the importance of addressing the expert-public gap to foster informed citizenship in an era dominated by data.