The document discusses e-democracy, which uses information and communication technologies to expand and improve democratic processes. E-democracy can enhance democracy by enabling electronic voting, improving civic engagement through online political discussions and information sharing, and allowing more direct participation between citizens and representatives. However, e-democracy systems face issues like ensuring effective citizen participation, voting equality, and addressing cybersecurity risks and protecting sensitive user data. Digital inclusion is also important to ensure all citizens can participate in e-democracy.

1. E-democracy
Dr. Varun Kumar
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2. Outlines
1 Introduction
2 Key features of e-democracy
Expansion of conventional democratic system
Improving democracy
Disruption of e-democracy and Digital inclusion
3 Issues with e-democracy
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3. Introduction
Key point
⇒ E-democracy = Electronic + Democracy.
⇒ It is also called as digital democracy or Internet democracy.
⇒ It is the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in
political and governance processes.
⇒ The term is proposed by digital activist Steven Clift.
⇒ ICT include civic technology and government technology.
⇒ All adult citizens are presumed to be eligible to participate equally in
the proposal, development and creation of laws.
⇒ E-democracy encompasses social, economic and cultural conditions
that enable the free and equal practice of political self-determination.
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4. Key features of E-democracy
Expanding democracy
⇒ The Internet encourage thinking capability by a democratic medium.
⇒ Electronic voting should be done with a proper purpose and with
achieving a common constitutional goal.
⇒ Example: Expanding democracy → e-voting (by EVM) Vs traditional
ballots.
Social design in the early days of internet:
⇒ Strong support for free speech (norms of a democracy).
⇒ Sharing culture
Unmediated mass communication on the internet
Newsgroups
Chat rooms etc
Finally, because the Internet is a massive digital network with open
standards, universal and inexpensive access to a wide variety of
communication media and models could actually be attained.
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5. Improving democracy
♦ Modern democracies ⇔ Representative democracies.
♦ Citizens elect representatives for
Creation and implementation of laws
Making policies
Proper regulations on their behalf
⇒ Direct democracies ⇔ Citizens retain that responsibility.
E-democracy:
⇒ E-democracy devolve political power from elected representatives to
the individual.
⇒ The Internet educates people on democracy, helping people stay up to
date with what is happening in their government.
⇒ Online advertising is becoming more popular for political candidates.
⇒ Usability of search engines, such as Google results in
Increased citizen engagement with research and political issues.
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6. Continued–
⇒ Any individual has the potential to go viral and gain influence over a
large number of others.
⇒ Collective decision making and problem-solving gives more power to
the citizens and helps politicians make decisions faster.
⇒ Getting feedback and advice from the American population is a large
part of a politician’s job.
⇒ Example: Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton made good use of
Twitter.
⇒ E-democracy is sometimes seen as a remedy to the insular nature,
concentrated power, and lack of post-election accountability.
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7. Disruption of e-democracy and Digital inclusion
⇒ E-democracy platforms expand the opportunities to exercise voting
rights in political elections.
⇒ They are also vulnerable to disruption
⇒ Digital voting platforms have received attacks that tried to change a
political election’s outcome.
⇒ Cyber-security threats to the integrity of
Electoral mechanisms
Government institutions
Digital inclusion
Digital inclusion is essential for citizen participation in public policy.
It helps the formulation for a healthy digital democracy through equal
participation of all sections of society, irrespective of
⇒ Citizen’s income level
⇒ Education level
⇒ Gender, ”Religion”, ”Color”, ”Race”, ”Language, ”Physical and mental
health”
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8. Issues with e-democracy
⇒ Effective participation
⇒ Voting equality at decision stage
⇒ Enlightened understanding
⇒ Control of the agenda
⇒ Inclusiveness
Systemic issues may include
Cyber-security concerns
Protection of sensitive data from third parties
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