Challenges of electronic deliberation in the era of digital participation

Abstract

The new digital participation supported by new technologies requires a new way of understanding democracy, deliberation and electronic voting. It is a paradigm different from using technology in traditional procedures. There are new problems that arise in this digital ecosystem. For example, mass participation through electronic deliberation platforms involves completely new challenges. The traditional management it is completely different in compare to the active intervention of hundreds or thousands of online users. Simply, the digital options that emerge need to be managed in a new and particular way. For this reason, in order to achieve a desirable electronic democracy, it is essential to point out accurately which are the most pressing threats that can detract a healthy democracy. In the following lines, I will expose the most relevant challenges.