There has been an expanding and increasingly global movement in the use of technology and digital media aimed at promoting government transparency, accountability, and public participation in governance and political processes. Transparency is needed to promote good governance as it reduces opaqueness and provides details on areas most prone to corruption. Countries around the world use technology which draws attention to making government information more open to the public. Technology and media are used as instruments to provide information that was not previously readily accessible to citizens as it puts pressure on the government to act against corruption and to be more transparent.
Transparency is understood as the opening up of information on actions and laws to the public, including government funding and spending. Coupled with action from the public and media, this should lead to accountability where government officials take responsibility for their actions or inactions.
Good governance requires digitizing all government processes; with digitization comes heightened transparency and accountability. Immediate access to information positively affects in enhancing transparency; and empowering citizens with information immediately increases the accountability of the government.
It is important to be clear that transparency does not mean “policing”. It cannot, and should not, be a witch-hunt. Governments are, as a rule, managed by those who are selected or elected in a manner established for this purpose. It is essential to trust these legitimate processes, as they are necessary for society to function. However, this legitimation does not mean that it is not important to be accountable for the decisions taken, and this is where transparency becomes most important.
To be accountable for something, information is needed. For information to be delivered, transparency is needed. The government is not homogenous and even within a corrupt government, there are individuals within who want to provide better services to citizens. Technological aid and digitization is a must, in today’s day and age, to make information readily and instantaneously available to citizens.
