Digital Democracy
Public participation is an important way to build citizen voice into digital policymaking. Innovation in digital technology is increasingly affecting everyday life, creating a need for more just and equitable policies that protect people’s rights and interests. Cities and other institutions, including digital platforms, can use participatory programs to build consensus around digital rights and issues. These might include data privacy, online harms, artificial intelligence and algorithm bias.
Despite the relevance and urgency of digital issues, much work remains to give regular people power over public decisions that affect their digital rights. When choosing which participatory or deliberative approach to take, it is especially important to consider which traditionally marginalized and excluded groups tend to be disproportionately impacted by the digital divide and digital harms. A combination of initiatives may be effective.
Many local and national governments have used participatory policymaking as a means of gathering citizens’ insights on specific aspects of digital governance and policy. Some of these initiatives have also incorporated digital civic participation platforms to facilitate engagement, though measures should be taken to ensure that this does not disenfranchise people with lower levels of digital literacy.
Citizens’ assemblies, participatory budgeting and legislative theater can also be used to give people power over digital decision-making, though this is still a newly developing field. Keep reading to see how digital democracy is being practiced around the world!