Digital Democracy and Transparency

Transparency and public data can help improve the effectiveness of government agencies and elected officials. However, current transparency requirements focus on physical publication and inspection, which favor and protect incumbent power. Local governments often do not have rigorous data collection, and even localities that have the data lack the resources to make it useful. The solution to this problem includes targeted legal reforms, citizen-centered technologies and modernized models of public administration. Tools of digital democracy, such as open data, open 311, and open FOIL, and open meetings are essential for an informed citizenry that consents to be governed in the modern era.