THE BURNING OF THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. J.M.W. TURNER, 1835. /WIKIMEDIA.

March 2019

Technology for Governance, Politics, and Democracy

Innovative Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) already play an important role in e-governance and digital democracy, both at national and community levels. There is unprecedented opportunity for community collective choice, whereby citizens who are affected by a set of governing rules can help to select policy options, rank spending priorities, and can, in partnership with their local government representatives, participate in the approval, implementation, modification, and application of those rules. Parliaments can be petitioned by citizen groups to insert debates into the legislative process. Social networking ICTs make it possible for politicians and political parties to engage directly with citizens at every stage of the democratic process. But not all their effects are positive.

—Tom Kane and Nick Novelli, Guest Editors, from Special Issue Introduction

Free Online Content

• BOOK REVIEW: Algorithms of Oppression by Rachelle Linner Posted in: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Book Reviews, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact - Discrimination is “embedded in computer code and, increasingly, in artificial intelligence technologies that we are reliant on, by choice or… ...  Read More
• Post Tenebras, Lux: An Awakening by terribookman Posted in: Last Word, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact - Transition phases are often arduous and chaotic. When we read about positive outcomes, we can fail to recognize the formidable… ...  Read More
• Smart Cities through Smart Regulation by Gustavo Gil Gasiola Posted in: Editorial & Opinion, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact - Smart Cities demand new strategies and forms of control. The traditional model of public regulation is challenged by a renewed… ...  Read More
• Call for Papers — Special Issue of IEEE Technology and Society Magazine by Roba Abbas Posted in: Announcements, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact - The key question for the future is that with all the investment in new technologies, by both governments and business… ...  Read More
• Efficiency Versus Creativity as Organizing Principles of Socio-Technical Systems by Ada Diaconescu Posted in: Commentary, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact - What sense of worth and dignity can a person have when their daily activities are confined within systemic contraptions where… ...  Read More
• The Democracy Lag by Caroline Lucas Posted in: Editorial & Opinion, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact - U.K. democracy is out of date. It isn’t built to deal with digital tools that have unprecedented potential to manipulate… ...  Read More
• Past IEEE SSIT President Gerald L. Engel Dies at Age 76 by ieeessit Posted in: Magazine Articles, News and Notes, Social Implications of Technology - Gerald (Jerry) Engel, a past President of IEEE-SSIT, has died. ...  Read More
• Technology for Governance, Politics, and Democracy by Tom Kane and Nick Novellil Posted in: Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact - Innovative Information and Communication Technologies play an important role in e-governance and digital democracy. There is unprecedented opportunity for community… ...  Read More
• President’s Message – Congratulations and Thanks by Robert Dent Posted in: Magazine Articles, President's Message, Social Implications of Technology - As new SSIT President, I congratulate the three people who were elected to the Member-at-Large positions on the SSIT Board… ...  Read More
• Facts, Policies, and Values– The Democratic Triad by Jeremy Pitt Posted in: Editorial & Opinion, Ethics, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact - Politics required dialogue, deliberation, negotiation, and compromise. But now there is a dispute over the facts themselves. ...  Read More

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