Social Media for Good Governance

hemant@goswami.infohemant@goswami.info
Role of Social Media in
Good Governance
Hemant Goswami
hemant@goswami.info

7 Ways
in which
Social Media
Contributes to
SOCIAL Governance

❏ Bring government to the people,
❏ Civil Engagement - Every Person can contribute
❏ An Open Grievance Redressal Mechanism, which never was
❏ Ensures that political decisions are adapted to the needs of the
people who affected by them
❏ Direct Participation in Governance is Possible
❏ Every Group has the power to lobby/ advocate and become a
pressure group
❏ When an issue touches cords of the masses, a nuclear-fusion is
possible
❏ Democracy becomes all inclusive
Inclusion & Participation
Brings Governance to The People 1

❏ Role of independent and pluralistic media in promoting participation
is very important as the media reports on various aspects of the
decision-making process and give stakeholders a voice in that process.
❏ Traditional Media can be bought - Social Media is beyond that
❏ Voices in Social Media can no more be ignored
❏ Today agenda can not be set plainly by controlling the conventional
media - masses decide the alternate dialogue beyond the control of
any one individual
❏ Democracy flourish with multiple voices and alternate dialogues
❏ Free expression is the backbone of democratic process. Wide range of
debates can take place and a variety of viewpoints be represented.
Alternate Dialogue in Governance
Beyond The Commercial Controlled Media 2

❏ Governments can directly use the Social Media to counter
misinformation campaign.
❏ It can/is be used to control/ dispel rumors and promote facts/
truth in a fast, effective and credible manner.
❏ Alternative to corruption in the conventional media.
❏ Positivity can be/is reinforced
❏ New activities/ messages/ actions can be activated and promoted
❏ Opens up access to government and government officials and
create new possibilities for community driven initiatives.
Countering Misinformation Campaigns &
Rumors 3

❏ Promotes Transparency & Brings Accountability.
❏ Citizen Monitoring & Oversight
❏ Corrupt Practices rob Governments of it’s Credibility & Legitimacy
❏ There are groups which promote secrecy - Social Media is the
answer for it.
❏ Whistleblowing becomes possible with Social Media & also offers
protection from the possible fall-out, which happens when it’s done
only by an individual. In few minutes information becomes global
and it provides immunity to an individual.
❏ Accountability to the public is critical in a democratic society.
❏ Public is free to examine the transactions of the government and to
hold its representatives accountable for their actions. In a
democracy this translates into VOTING-OUT a bad government.
Transparency, Accountability & Fighting
Corruption, 4

❏ Promotes Human Rights & enhance civic participation.
❏ Beyond Censorship & Control
❏ Freedom of Speech & Expression
❏ Brings Equality - Every person has a voice
❏ Help people group together and form associations
❏ Promotes equal opportunity
❏ All Minorities get a voice
❏ Crime Reporting systems to check violation of human rights
Promotes Fundamental Human Rights
5

❏ Can speed-up governance and action
❏ A Fast & Cost-Effective Medium/ Channel for Public-Service
Delivery & interactive dialogue.
❏ Providing information through social media channels offers real
efficiencies in creating faster, easier and cheaper access to
information, particularly to youngsters who use, read and
operate in social media spaces.
❏ Social Media strengthens “e-governance” in a cost effective
manner.
❏ Help provides media and citizens with direct access to
administrative information and decision-making processes
Saves Time and Money
6

❏ Social Media has the potential to provide minute-to-minute &
regular feedback of governance, government action, policies
and performance.
❏ A cost effective and quick method of systematically collecting
feedbacks
❏ Assists in mid-course correction & to understand the pulse of the
people
❏ Detailed analysis of the data can provide important
understanding of various patterns, behaviour and responses.
❏ New Algorithm’s can be tested to find solutions of any existing
problem.
Feedback Mechanism
7

❏ Can be used against democracy too
❏ Issue of privacy and personal libel
❏ Grouping of anti-social people
❏ Spreading rumors & misinformation
❏ Question about the reliability of information
❏ Privacy & integrity of data
❏ Use of information by foreign groups, which can be a threat to
the national security
❏ Control of technology - if it’s not within the sovereign nation
❏ Intrinsic & extrinsic threat to technology
❏ Etc...
Double Edged Sword

In good governance, everything revolves around
the people; it’s about their needs and interests.
As a result of Social Media all the acts of our
government functionaries are immediately
brought to the public eye; consequently they are
forced to be more careful, discreet, prudent,
responsible, transparent and accountable for
their actions.

BASELINE
Social Media is going to transform
the Citizen-Government DIALOGUE for
ever. It’s also going to change the
way Government functions

Hemant Goswami
Thank You

Social Media for Good Governance

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