In recent years, there has been an increase in the openness of government data. Data storytelling has emerged as a means to enhance communication by transforming mundane data into easily understandable narratives. However, it is crucial to pay attention to privacy risks. This paper delves into the concept of storytelling government data, integrating cognitive reasoning and the S-O-R model, and evaluates privacy risks. Through comparative experiments and interviews, this study examines how users may infer sensitive information. The research reveals that storytelling of open government data positively impacts users’ cognition, enabling them to deduce more sensitive information. De-storytelling can mitigate privacy risks, reduce information relevance, simplify narratives, and strike a balance between user experience and privacy. Building on this research, the paper proposes a strategy to address privacy risks, recommends strengthening privacy protection awareness from the perspectives of both users and platforms, optimizing data presentation methods, reducing the risk of sensitive information leakage, and ensuring the convenience and security of government data disclosure.