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Technology and Democracy 2: E-Government and Democratic Rights
Organizers: Gorbachev Foundation; Balliol College, Oxford University; FRIDE Fundacion
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This conference drew together senior politicians, academics, policy makers, experts in computing, broadcasting and the Internet, industrialists, consumers and citizens to discuss critically and in depth - and in a neutral environment - the challenges and opportunities involved in creating and sustaining electronic government.
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Chairman Dr. George J. Matthews; Founding Director and Senior Fellow, Dr. Diego Hidalgo; Vice President and Executive Director Dr. T. Anthony Jones and Senior Fellow Graham Allen
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Presentation at the Conference on Technology and Democracy held at Balliol College, Oxford University, March 2001
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What is the role of government in this newly emerging area? What kinds of controls, if any, are needed?
What kinds of protection for citizens are needed? What are the implications for legal systems?
Which governments are attempting to restrict or monitor access to ICTs, for what purposes, and with what consequences?
In recent years there has been a rapid worldwide increase in the number of people who are using new technologies to form political groupings outside of the usual political process. This has provided new opportunities for democratic and anti-democratic developments. In nations that have a very restricted, undemocratic regime, the use of new technologies has created instability, and in some cases has brought down regimes.
Also, new technologies are increasingly used to influence public opinion, with a view to bringing pressures to bear on a regime. These and related issues (such as the role of electronic media) were a focus of discussion.
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