Technological advancements are transforming the process by which information is obtained. It has allowed for transparency and accountability regarding the government and is slowly revolutionizing the structure of the world. Italy has introduced a Freedom of Information law as well as a Digital4Democracy government program. Out of these to implementations, only Digital4Democracy has proved to be majorly successful.
Over one hundred countries have both adopted and implemented Freedom of Information laws (FOIs). An FOI’s aim is to provide a legal procedure in which government retained information can become apparent upon request. In May 2016, The Republic of Italy approved and executed its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Since then, over a thousand FOIA requests have been submitted. Out of which only around 200 have been properly acknowledged. Though in principle, FOIA aims to increase government accountability and transparency, the means by which it executes its goals are not effective. Thus, not meeting the objective of increasing government accountability and transparency.
Alongside Italy’s Freedom of Information Act, Digital4Democracy was introduced. Italy has worked with a third-party, Cedar-85, in order to establish technology as a path to government transparency. Digital4Democracy utilizes Automatic Speech Recognition technologies in government meetings. The technology then allows people to explore government meetings through keywords such as politicians or topics. Before Digital4Democracy audio transcription was a limiting and resource intensive process. After implementation, Digital4Democracy has reached a large majority of cities in Italy. Digital4Democracy allows those in Italy to effectively view what the Italian Government has discussed and decided.
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In a speech, The Republic of Italy’s Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, stated that a goal of his was to spark a “revolution in the relationship between citizens and public administration so that every citizen can find evidence of what their representatives are doing from day to day”. Digital4Democracy has accomplished this goal. One reason as to why Digital4Democracy is extremely effective is that over 69 percent of Italians have internet access (2017). Thus allowing for a majority of Italy to take advantage of this program. As of June 2017, 51% of the world was estimated to have internet access. Seeing so, Italy believes that a majority of countries have the ability to employ a similar governmental program to Digital4Democracy.
Certainly, there is much more to be done to improve government transparency and accountability through technological utilization. Nonetheless, a program similar to Digital4Democracy will provide opportunities to do so. Italy has made a large step in putting technology to use in order to bring the people and the government together. Due to an unsuccessful experience with the Freedom of Information Act, the Republic of Italy has full confidence that a program similar to Digital4Democaracy which is an information technology has the potential to increase government accountability and transparency throughout the world.
