Is Civic Tech coming to the rescue of democracy?

“Civic technology,” according to Wikipedia, represents “the set of processes, tools, and technologies that improve democratic functioning by enhancing the role of citizens in debates and decision-making.” Behind this definition lies a wide range of areas, from the exploitation of open-source data (a transparency issue) to facilitating the voting process, consultation, dialogue, community building, or even proposing new laws and measures to governments. In this sense, MesOpinions, which allows citizens to advocate for and bring forth their ideas, is a civic tech: it strengthens the role of citizens in decision-making.

Whether it’s to prevent the closure of a class in a small town, to modify the project for a factory in your region, or to change the law on the treatment of animals in zoos, the petition allows citizens to get involved, to present and argue their request, to strengthen the role of the citizen, and to push the decision-maker towards a decision. MesOpinions, like many other initiatives, is an integral part of Civic Tech.

Behind this term, which recalls others like fintech and which simply refers to the contribution of digital technology in a specific field - here citizenship - lies a reality related to our time. Citizenship is under pressure, the French are becoming disinterested in public life, voting less, consumption patterns are evolving, communication channels are changing, and digital technology has taken a central place in our daily lives. Civic tech responds to a specific need to restore hope to citizens, to reconnect with decision-makers, to re-enchant citizenship through dematerialization, immediacy, and the power of data offered by digital technology.

Why this need for civic tech?

The junction of two main phenomena contributes to creating this need for a renewal of citizenship.

Firstly, the rise of the internet, which we will not dwell on further. The internet is everywhere, it helps us in absolutely all aspects of our lives, and it naturally imposes itself in the realm of democratic life - just look at how political figures communicate on social media to have a direct link with their supporters.

The second fact, much more worrying and damaging to our societies: the democratic crisis. The facts are there and do not lie: a broken trust between the political class and citizens, the impression that the situation does not change from one election cycle to the next, or the growing desacralization of elected officials, the media attraction to extreme and divisive statements… The French find it hard to believe in democracy in 2021. Is it the fault of reality TV? Of 24-hour news channels? Of the political figures themselves? Of our electoral system? That is not the question: what interests us is to show that this crisis exists, that it disinterests the French in public life, and that it was time for new ways to express, decide, and give opinions to emerge.

In this context, access everywhere and at all times to tools aimed at restoring power to the citizen could only work and find its audience! With the advent of free expression for all, every citizen can seize a civic tech tool to voice their demands: give their opinion on a public measure (participatory budget in Paris), propose ideas on a specific theme (Make.org), or even launch their petition and try to change the world (MesOpinions, of course!). Thanks to these new possibilities, participatory democracy is made more accessible, simpler, for any citizen looking to engage, at all levels. 

As we have seen, Civic Tech and all the tools that accompany it were born in a conducive context. A real need for representativeness and democracy is felt, and connected citizenship can provide answers. However, especially when it comes to politics and the management of opinions, it is necessary to ask what precautions must be taken to deploy these technologies, and what abuses may arise.

MesOpinions, a civic tech for more democracy?

As an online petition platform open to all citizens, MesOpinions clearly fits the definition of civic tech: our tool aims to improve democratic functioning by giving anyone who wishes to have an impact on decision-making. We offer a space for exchange and debate, a space to develop a well-structured argument on a subject, for more direct democracy.

Some petitions contradict each other on our platform, and this is sometimes the criticism we face; but this is our bet: to let citizens express themselves and attempt to debate to unite around them (within the limits of what the law allows, of course). In this sense, we feel we are working for democracy, alongside a multitude of other civic tech platforms. 

Behind this borrowed word from English lies the reality of a number of actors who wish to mobilize to recreate connections and encourage citizens to invest in the life of their city, their department, or even their country. It is a great pride to be part of this movement and to exploit the possibilities of digital technology to provide useful tools to the French. The subject is immensely vast and could deserve a series of works, but this article will already give you a first idea of what civic techs are.