Marc Webber #senedd2011

The good, the bad and the ugly

E-democracy in action

What is democracy?

“the practice or principles of social

equality”Source: Oxford English Dictionary

What is e-democracy?

“the practice or principles of social

equality”

Why bother?

• 723,320 adult Facebook users in Wales

• First week of March: Welsh phrases occupied top 10 UK Twitter trends of the week

• 500 tweets Gymraeg ar gael pob dydd

• Over 60 Welsh Language apps on iPhone

THE UGLY

• Over 2/3rds of English authorities actually breaking the law by providing no e-petition

• 26% of council websites included listings future consultations planned, where they list current and past consultation exercises online

• 49% do not offer a map showing council ward boundaries.

• You have to be there

• You must not avoid the conversation

The Good

Bristol – ASKing the right questionsBristol – ASKing the right questions

• Making data accessible on multi platforms

• Lighting the touch paper....then standing back

• Allowing the conversation elsewhere

• Follow up...show people their voices are heard

“Blogs improve the quality of a politician’s public perception and

potentially the citizens’ voting decisions as well (irrespective of a

potential contribution to deliberation).”

”…..Blogs can improve democratic processes in certain regards, where

the traditional means of political communication have shortcomings

—for example, they potentially allow more people to actively

participate in political discourse.”