Michael de Laine

UK studies increasing interest in eDemocracy

By Michael de Laine, Copenhagen, 25^th January 2009

A proposal for an ePetitions system is just one example of increasing interest in eDemocracy resulting from the growing use of the internet, the popularity of web-based applications such as social networking, and the trend towards digital convergence. But eDemocracy should be used to complement other methods of citizens’ engagement, rather than to replace them.

The current proposal for an ePetitions system in the House of Commons is just one example of increasing interest in eDemocracy. The reasons for this interest include the growing use of the internet, the popularity of web-based applications such as social networking, and the trend towards digital convergence.

A new note from the UK’s Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology (POST) looks at recent initiatives in Britain, and at challenges faced in their design and implementation. It also examines debate over the purpose of eDemocracy and where its future lies.

POST says there is no single definition for eDemocracy: it can broadly be described as the use of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to increase and enhance citizens’ engagement in democratic processes.

Early attempts involved two-way cable television (1970s) and Teletext (1980s). However, it was the emergence of the World Wide Web in the 1990s that led to the rise of eDemocracy in its current form.

Traditionally, POST says in the note, eDemocracy initiatives were categorised as top-down and bottom-up, although the boundaries are becoming increasingly blurred:

• top-down initiatives are those started by the government, or by local authorities, often with the goals of lowered costs, or increased efficiency, transparency and convenience
• bottom-up initiatives come from citizens and activists at the grassroots level. These generally aim to increase transparency, accountability or convenience as well as to inform, educate and campaign

In each category activities can be either:

• one-way processes – including dissemination of information from the government to citizen
• two-way processes - including public opinion polls, or consultation on draft bills

There is debate over which activities should be classed as ‘eDemocracy’. It is sometimes taken to include eVoting or eCampaigning (using ICT to publicise, organise, lobby or fund-raise), but it does not usually include eGovernment (using ICT for better delivery of government services).

POST says a variety of technologies can be used for eDemocracy, such as Interactive Digital Television and mobile phones. However, the most popular is the World Wide Web.

In its early days the web focused on delivery of information, with the user as a passive consumer. However, ‘Web 2.0’ applications allow information-sharing and peer-to-peer collaboration, for example:

• Blogs (or web-logs), which usually take the form of an online diary. These include the House of Lords’ ‘Lords of the Blog’ initiative at http://lordsoftheblog.wordpress.com. This pilot project of the Hansard Society aims at encouraging dialogue between citizens and the House of Lords.
• Social networking sites like Facebook and YouTube (used by about 11 million UK residents a month, about one-third of all UK internet users) allow users to interact and share images or audio/video clips. Almost 100 MPs have Facebook pages. Parliament and 10 Downing Street started their own YouTube channels in 2007. A key feature is the viral nature in which information and commentary can propagate rapidly across the network.

There is no single UK government department responsible for eDemocracy although a range of initiatives is under way. Two key developments initiated by the Cabinet Office focus on better use of public sector data, and more user-centric government services.

The POST note also looks at factors affecting the uptake of eDemocracy – including technological challenges such as privacy, standardisation and design; and social challenges, in particular demographics, access to or skills in using ICT - and its future.

According to POST, eDemocracy is still evolving. Almost all the UK population have mobile phones, 66% have internet access and 98.5% of the UK will receive digital TV services by 2012.

“The line that divides the functions of these platforms is becoming increasingly blurred,” POST notes. “This technological convergence will provide new opportunities for delivering eDemocracy in the coming years.”

The Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology says there is a wide range of views over what eDemocracy is and where its future lies.

“At its simplest level, eDemocracy can be seen as a tool to bring democracy and political processes in line with technological developments,” POST says. “Beyond that, eDemocracy could be seen as a way to strengthen existing political processes, by increasing interaction between citizen and the government. The Institute for Public Policy Research says that eDemocracy is about ‘encouraging people to interact on a neighbourhood level to solve their problems’.”

Wherever its future lies, the POST note says, it is widely agreed that eDemocracy should be used to complement other methods of engagement, rather than to replace them.