PAD 6710: Lecture 4

E-Democracy and Participation

E-democracy Use of electronic means to promote

meaningful democracy Strong democracy-deliberative, open decision

making process Electronic platform as the “public square”

Transparency Transparency refers to the openness of the

decision making process Public access to information Fairness in decision making

Accountability Accountability refers to taking responsibility in

decision making process Public oversight of decision making Justification by decision makers

IT opportunities for Democracy IT broadens public access to information IT can allow broader participation in interacting with

legislators Change.gov

IT allows citizen publicizing complaints more easily Praja, a nonprofit in Mumbai, India has an online

complaint system about public officials [see: http://www.praja.org ]

Fixmystreet: http://www.fixmystreet.com IT enables tracking the decision making processes

Emails, videos, other audio-video and written documents are permanent records that can be accessed more easily, increasing transparency and accountability

Emails of public officials are public records Recall youtube video of a senator calling a person

macaca cost him running for presidency

IT opportunities for Democracy IT enables more watchdogs

Many government and political blogging sites track the performance of government and elected officials

Nonprofit watchdogs Sunlight Foundation [http://

www.sunlightfoundation.com/] Govtrack [http://www.govtrack.us/] Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

(CREW): http://www.citizensforethics.org/ Government information sources

USAspending: http://usaspending.gov/ [President Obama’s renewed launch for transparency, which allows public access to budget data, allowing public access to data through Advanced Programming Interface (API)]

Gov 2.0: Adult social networking

Source: Pew Internet, 2009, Adults and Social Network Websites

Social networks as “public squares” Adult social network users quadrupled in

the past four years From 8% in 2005 to 35% in 2009.

While media focuses heavily on children’s use of social networking, adults still make up the bulk of the users of these websites.

Still younger online adults are much more likely than to use social networks 75% in 18-24 range; 7% in 65 or more

Most, but not all adult social network users are privacy conscious 60% of restrict access to their profiles

E-ParticipationE-CivicsE-Legislation

E-Voting

E-Campaigning

E-Activism

Layers of E-Democracy

Layers E-Activism

The use of electronic means to mobilize volunteers, raise funds, disseminate information, and otherwise pursue the various functions of interest groups seeking to influence public policy Environmental

http://actionnetwork.org/ Anti-globalization activism:

http://www.mcspotlight.org/ E-Campaigning

The use of electronic means to mobilize volunteers, raise funds, disseminate information and otherwise pursue the various functions of interest groups that seek to influence elections. Barack Obama raised most of his funding through

online campaigns Moveon.org

Layers E-Voting

The electronic means to implement voting or polling processes via the Internet or other networks, not necessarily limited to traditional political elections. Promoted by the America Vote Act 2002 Main concerns with e-Voting are sabotage,

lack of a paper trail, possibilities of machine malfunction, and voter fraud.

E-legislating The use of electronic means to enhance

the legislative process E-rulemaking

http://www.regulations.gov

Layers E-Civics

The use of electronic means to provide citizens access to agency information – most American already use e-civics functions. American Civics Center

http://www.americancivicscenter.com

E-participation The use of electronic means to encourage public

participation in governmental decision making or agency rule-making

Three forms: decision-making transparency email and communication e-Regulation

Digital Divide concepts Digital Divide

Divide: Certain segments of the population are left behind by digital technology – haves and have-nots

Inclusion: Concept to include allow computer and internet access to broader segment of population

Tracking digital divide and technology adoption Falling through the Net/ Nation online

Federal government reports between 1995 and 2004 tracked digital divide and technology adoption/ penetration.

Web address: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/reports/anol/index.html Pew Internet Reports

Pew Internet, a nonprofit, explores the impact of the internet on children, families, communities, the work place, schools, health care and civic/political life.

Web address: http://www.pewinternet.org/

Digital Divide by Race/ Ethnicity

2005 2006 2007 2008

White 31% 42% 48% 57%

African-American 14% 31% 40% 43%

Hispanic 28% 41% 47% 56%

Broadband penetration by race/ ethnicity, 2005-2008

Source: Pew Internet, 2008, Home Broadband Adoption 2008

Digital divide is significant for African Americans. Broadband adoption was 43% in 2008, lagging far behind Whites.

Digital divide between Whites and Hispanics is not significant.

Digital Divide by Region Suburban residents are the most

users of Internet (60% in 2008, with significant increase over the years)

Rural Americans are the lowest users, with 38% in 2008 However, use by rural Americans has

been increasing very fast

2005 2006 2007 2008

Urban 31 44 52 57

Suburban 33 46 49 60

Rural 18 25 31 38

Broadband penetration by Region, 2005-2008

Source: Pew Internet, 2008, Home Broadband Adoption 2008

Digital Divide by Age

Internet Use by Generation

Percentage of Americans online by Age

Source: Pew Internet, 2009, Generations Online in 2009

Digital divide by Income Broadband penetration is very low among low-

income Americans (households with income $20,000 or below) [about 25% in 2008].

Broadband penetration levels is nearing saturation among upper-income Americans: (households with income $100,000 or or above) [about 85% in 2008].

Source: Pew Internet, 2008, Home Broadband Adoption 2008

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2005 2006 2007 2008

Under $20K

$20K-$30K

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$50K-$75K

$75K-$100K

Over $100K

E-Democracy Hacking Democracy

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7926958774822130737&ei=On6tS4nGDZLmqgLclvTkBg&q=hacking+democracy+video#

http://www.hackingdemocracy.com Blackbox voting

http://www.blackboxvoting.org/