eParticipation and eDemocracy in Austria

Danube University Krems T he Leading Competence Center of Academic Continuing Education in Central Europe www.donau-uni.ac.at /egov eParticipation & eDemocracy in Austria: Projects and Tenets for an Edemocracy Strategy

Agenda

Terms & Definitions

Austrian eDemocracy strategy

Future of …

Terms & Definitions

Austrian e-democracy strategy

Youth2Help

MyParliament

Outlook

Terms & Definitions

What is eDemocracy?

By the use of ICT …

Improving information accessibility & relevance AND/OR

Creating opportunities for people to be actively involved in design & delivery of government policies & services

Administration Politics & Participation Information

Level of eParticipation information consultation cooperation co-decision

eParticipation: Levels of Engagement

eInformation (Ann Macintosh: "eEnabling")

one-way channel

information < government (official sites) or citizens (ePetition)

eConsultation (" eEngaging")

limited two-way channel

official initiatives by public or private agencies

stakeholders contribute their opinion on specific issues

eCollaboration

more enhanced two-way channel

all stakeholders active: proposing & shaping policy

Officials responsible for final decision

eVoting / Codetermination /co-decision ("eEmpowering")

Public: final decision (e.g. legally binding referenda …)

Private Sector „Market“ Third Sector Public Sector „State“ Public (e)Services Policie s Co-decision Information (Transparency )

Austrian e-democracy strategy

Austrian eGovernment Cooperation Federal Government Platform Digital Austria Local and National Governments as well as Business Representatives Federal ICT Board BLSG Board Federal Ministries, Provinces, Municipalities, Chamber Organisations Federal Ministries … WG: Infrastructure & Interoperability WG: Law & Security PG: eDemocracy

Austrian e-democracy strategy Building Blocks & Roadmap 1. eDemocracy Strategy 2. eDemocracy & eParticipation Tools 3. eParticipation Prototype Processes 4. eParticipation Modules

1. eDemocracy Strategy – Main objective Strengthening and enhancement of democracy by incorporation of citizens and their knowledge to improve processes and results in politics, administration and society through the use of interactive media

1. eDemocracy Strategy - Aims

Increase transparency & traceability

Improve eParticipation & communication

More efficient participation projects

Develop new cooperation models

Promote social networks

1. eDemocracy Principles

Transparent & comprehensible

Use of eParticipation

Inclusion

Data protection & privacy

Free access to information

understandability & usability

Define rules & observe them

Collective responsibility

Decision & feedback

Actions

Projects & planning

Coordination, monitoring & evaluation von eDemocracy projects

Interdisciplinary research

Evaluation & support for new intermediates

Media and information competence – continuing education of user

Overview of instruments & projects & tools

Linked to CAHDE Tool Box (Council of Europe)

Structured:

Top Down (Politics, administration, legislation)

Bottom Up

2. eDemocracy & eParticipation Tools

Guide lines for eParticipation processes

First prototype process design till 2009

Processes for different sectors:

eServices & ePolitics

Development of a prototype eParticipation tool (2010)

3. eParticipation Prototype Processes

e.g.:

registration,

identification,

privacy,

chats, forums,

voting,

…

Information will be published via WIKI for the administration.

4. eParticipation Modules

3. Youth 2 Help top down

Participation & Collaboration in Administration (Jugend2Help) top down

Austrian youth-participation-project

young users were asked to decide on the content and features of "their" HELP-space themselves.

~900 contributions

~2000 votes

Procedure - Processes Entry Phase 1 “ Discussion or Comments” Online Phase 3 “ Rating” Online Phase 2 “ Elaboration” Online or Offline Export data Import data Administration Administration Phase 4 Results Publication

Lessons Learned

Moderation is essential

PR is one of the most crucial success factors

PR with social media – like facebook, myspace – especially for younger target groups

Involvement of the target group into all phases is beneficial

Web accessibility

schools are still most trusted institutions

Next Steps

Development of the youth section on help

Extension of the communication possibilities

Content review by youth

New incorporated content online

In the future youth will be able to suggest and work out content on Help.gv.at

4. MyParliament (bottom up) bottom up

Participation & Collaboration in Policy-Making bottom up

Start: meinparlament.at

Online 22nd of August 2008

Media-Cooperation with 8 Austrian Newspapers

2700 Questions until Election Day Sept. 28

Patronage: all three Presidents of the Austrian Parliament

Partnerships with www.abgeordnetenwatch.de

meinparlament.at (Campaign Period)

Voters can put questions to all candidates,

Access election programmes of all parties,

Access profiles of politicians online.

Candidates can answer questions and refer to other answers.

Voters see what questions have already been asked.

meinparlament.at (Legislative Period)

MPs can be asked in public

Citizens can access profiles of politicians

Citizens can observe the work of parliamentary committees

Unfiltered, direct access to texts from the parliamentary editorial department (e.g. committees, parliamentary sessions and sittings)

Structured: regionally, thematically and by parties

Users background

unique visits & questions unique visits / day questions / month

Documentation of MP‘s work

MP‘s profile

Moderation system

Service for journalists

5. Outlook

First media revolution Second media revolution Third media revolution Fourth media revolution One 2 Many „ One 2 Many“ One 2 Many One 2 One Fifth media revolution Digitization Convergence Many 2 Many

Enhancing Tendencies of Progress …