A researcher’s perspective of regulatory issues

A researcher’s perspective of regulatory issues Dr. Maria A. Wimmer Professor and Head of Research Group eGovernment wimmer@uni-koblenz.dehttp://www.uni-koblenz.de/agvinf/

Agenda • Current context of regulations in cross-sectorial relationships • Future visions of society, State and governments • The impact of technology on society and States • Keeping pace with the fast technological evolution

Citizens Parliaments Companies Governments Non-Profit Organisations Sectors of Society

Policies for implementation; Laws and directives as regulatory body framing government activity Citizens Parliaments Companies Governments Feedback from implementation, Demands for regulation, Statistics, … Non-Profit Organisations Traditional relationships among actors in the public sector

Governments regulate the market and the third sector through intervention in the market and in community business Citizens Parliaments Companies Governments § § § Non-Profit Organisations Traditional relationships among the public and the other sectors Governments regulate society and demand citizens to fulfill their duties towards the State

Companies and NPOs express their needs and demands in shaping society and markets through lobbying, community groups, unions, etc. Citizens Parliaments Companies Governments Non-Profit Organisations The sectors enacting their rights in democracies Citizens exercise their rights in democracy through voting and democratic deliberation

Scenario example: Ambient government[Stable environment, trust in government, government focus on inclusive services] Abstract: Government is all around. Citizens have a high confidence in government to effectively and efficiently settle issues for the common good. They are helped by a stable development of key environment variables. Government Cooperation between Europe’s governments Central EU eProcurement No physical contact (high quality of eServices) Political power at EU and local level raises, decrease at national level Transparent decision-making Public-Private Partnerships Society and context Europeanization Standardisation High investments into education as prevention measurement Internet communities ICT Communication across cultures ICT as driver e.g. economic growth Universal wireless networks Security standards Sector-specific regulation Service-oriented architecture

Scenario example: Incident politics[Disruptive environment, distrust in government, government focus on core business] Two-class- society: On one hand young, well-educated citizens always on the move and always on the run. On the other hand old citizens with only little understanding of existing ICT. Society has become largely individualistic, with only a small role for government that is distrusted. A disruptive environment is the reason why citizens demand security, and ICT is deployed for that purposes, as well as to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of government. Government Problems with providing essential services Restricted role in legal & governmental issues Simplification of procedures and organisational structures Cooperation and common policy Depersonalised interaction between government and citizens Society and context Social exclusion, digital divide Instable environment (terrorism, wars, etc.) Ageing society Privacy subordinated to security Individualism and self-responsibility Nationalism, Europe breaks down ICT Remote monitoring Implanted devices eParticipation eServices Ubiquitous Digital Right Management

The impact of technology on society and States • Internet as a global virtual space without borders • Anywhere and any time • Whatever one is searching for Do we need to regulate the virtual space ???

The impact of technology on society and States • Full electronic markets and eBusiness • Technology has become an ordinary means of business • Business processes have been streamlined • Regulation? Transformation of traditional practice, some digital rights, driven by demand and offer … • Social life gets more and more onto virtual spaces • Social networks and communities such as youtube, Flickr, Facebook, etc. • Self-regulation, everywhere present, any information you want to provide …

Public sector online services • Government eServices improving • Regulated mostly in existing laws, some new eGov acts • Law becomes accessible for free via the internet • Do citizens understand the laws without translation into their daily language? • Jurisdiction becomes accessible • Parliaments provide in part eVoting mechanisms • Parliaments start to get citizens more engaged through online media

What is the role of Parliaments and Governments in a virtual world?

Citizens Parliaments Companies Governments Non-Profit Organisat. What happens in a virtual world?

Citizens Parliaments Companies Governments Non-Profit Organisat. What happens in a virtual world? 

Citizens Parliaments Companies Governments Non-Profit Organisat. What happens in a virtual world? ? ?  ? ?

Some thoughts on interdependent aspects • Regulatory frameworks are heavily impacted by the emerging technologies and the fast adoption by the civil and the private sector • Regulations are often constraining the application of newly emerging technologies and applications for citizen participation in democratic processes • Mismatch between the stability of regulatory frameworks and fast advancements of technologies, and the private communities and markets adopting them

Trust in eGovernment Semantic and cultural interoperability of public services Assessing the value of government ICT investments E-participation, citizen engagement and democratic processes Mission-oriented goals and performance management Cyber infrastructures for eGovernment Information quality Ontology and intelligent information and knowledge management Governance of public-private-civic sector relationships Government’s role in the virtual world Crossing borders and the need for governance capabilities eGovernment in the context of socio-demographic change Data privacy and personal identity 13 Crucial Themes for Future eGoverment Research

Government’s role in the virtual world • Abstract: Global electronic markets, virtual organizations, virtual identities, virtual products and services, and Internet-related crime are growing in prominence and importance. In a world that is increasingly non-physical and borderless, what are government’s roles, responsibilities and limitations? • Key words: intellectual property, government in cyberspace, regulating the virtual world

Government’s role in the virtual world

Data privacy and personal identity • Abstract: Data privacy and personal identity have become important aspects in the Information Society. On the one hand, the potential of modern ICT could be exploited to take advantage of personal information to improve the performance and quality of government services. On the other hand, privacy and personal data need to be secured and protected in order to prevent misuse and fraud. What policies, protocols, and data management mechanisms are needed to balance individual privacy protection with effective and efficient use of that information by government? • Key words: data privacy, identity management, efficiency of services

Data privacy and personal identity

Some open questions • What consequences and impact will the transition to more advanced eParticipation and to more virtual democracy have for current constitutions, government bodies and the roles of elected representatives? • What regulatory implications will this transition bear for States and politics?

Many thanks for your attention! Discussion … wimmer@uni-koblenz.de http://www.uni-koblenz.de/agvinf

A researcher’s perspective of regulatory issues