Information dissemination forms a vital part of any democratic set up. It is information and communication technologies that make this happen. Frederick Noronha on how various types of media can help bring about greater accountability and transparency in public life

Information revolution has unleashed a wave of civic participation all over the globe, says Gopakumar Krishnan

Wired watchdogs? Yes. IT and new communication technologies could actually help to enhance accountability in public life, says a survey of initiatives that have come up from across the globe in this field.

“In the past few years, a potent combination of the information revolution, civic spirit and surge of self-determinism has resulted in unleashing a wave of civic participation all over the globe,” says Berlin-based Transparency International program manager Gopakumar Krishnan.

Krishnan, an Indian working with the international anti-corruption network, has presented a paper here to focus on how ICTs (information and communication technologies) can cut corruption, grapple with graft, reduce ‘information asymmetries’ and lower transaction costs.

Krishnan makes his point with three case studies—one each from Brazil, Ecuador and India.

In Sao Paulo (Brazil), a local radio station has been airing short anti-corruption spots aimed at building awareness and changing behaviour in a largely upper-middle-class audience.

This initiative, called ‘Say no to corruption’ began in August 2001. Radio Eldorado airs the spots four times a day, including twice during prime time. Themes include telling citizens that taking bribes is a crime, as is paying them. Local cases of money laundering are focused upon. Listeners are encouraged to monitor their municipality procurements. They are reminded that “it is not the government’s job to see that citizens are not corrupted, it is the citizen’s job to see that government is not corrupted.”

Brazil, being a huge country, would need many more stations to participate and impact change.

In Ecuador, meanwhile, a website called licitenet.com tries to make public procurement more transparent. Business associations and other organisations have long expressed concern about the high level of corruption in public procurement in Ecuador.

Disseminating information to citizens could counter this. Anyone can visit Licitenet.com site and make inquiries about the procurement processes underway, completed or pending approval. The number of hits on this site has grown rapidly.

The Public Affairs Centre (PAC), a not-for-profit organisation in Bangalore, has been working to influence “both the supply and demand sides of the electoral process,” says Krishnan.

PAC tries to enhance voter participation in elections. Using e-mail, radio (the private FM channel Radiocity and cable TV networks) it pushed for avoiding bogus votes and verifying voter lists. It used a telephone hotline to verify voter lists and record complaints.

There were also attempts to bring “probity and informed participation” in elections. Contesting candidates were interviewed, and asked “pertinent questions” about their backgrounds—do they pay taxes, do they reside in the wards where they are contesting from, about their criminal records and awareness of civic issues.

Past achievements, commitments to their wards and willingness to abide by electoral codes were issues that came under the magnifying glass. More must be done, warns Krishnan. “The failure of civil society organisations to participate in the ongoing technology-led information revolution will enfeeble them in their socio-political struggles and result in their inevitable marginalisation in the long-run,” he warns.

ICT-led initiatives cannot replace traditional grassroots advocacy. But, the potential of technology can blend with the “zeal of the advocate.”

Transparency International calls itself the “only international non-governmental organisation devoted to combating corruption.” Its priorities include bringing together civil society, business and government together in a “powerful coalition.”

Its international secretariat is based in Berlin, and it has over 90 national chapters across the globe. It works to “curb both the supply and demand for corruption.”