Numerous participatory processes are being developed in law-making. What are the most effective ways to connect parliaments and citizens? To what extent do these processes address the digital divide within countries, which leaves many men and women feeling angry and excluded from the political process?

1. World e-Parliament Conference 2016
#eParliament
28-30 June 2016 // Chamber of Deputies of Chile // Valparaiso
Citizen-centered digital tools
Dr Rebecca Rumbul /
Head of Research, mySociety

2. The rise of ‘PMO’ sites
Alternatives to official parliamentary websites
 ‘PMOs’ are alternative sources of
parliamentary information and data
 Majority of sites are built using data
parliaments and governments are making
digitally available
 Aim of such sites is to make parliamentary
information more readily available

3. PMO sites compared
Kenya, South Africa, UK, USA, India
 UK TheyWorkForYou.com
 South Africa PA.org.za
 Kenya http://info.mzalendo.com/
 USA www.govtrack.us

4. What do people want to know?
Citizens are demanding more information!
 Biographical information on individual
politicians, including work experience and
financial interests
 Contact information
 Individual politicians voting history and
policy position
 What is being said during parliamentary
debates

5. Why are PMO sites effective?
Aren’t they just repackaging data that is already out there?
 PMO sites tend to be built by frustrated
citizens/NGOs with digital expertise
 They tend to package data in a way that is
more logical to the user, rather than the
institution
 They are able to package data from
multiple sources
 They add narrative and context to data
 Used widely by infomediaries

6. Q: Do you believe that being able to
see this information enables you to
hold politicians/government to
account?

7. There are digital pitfalls . . .
Elite capture is a significant potential issue
 Users of PMO sites in UK / USA are clearly
more educated, older and more affluent
than the general populations
 Users in Kenya / South Africa are younger,
but still comparatively educated/wealthy
 Usage differs geographically
 The existence of these sites can
fundamentally change parliamentary
behaviour

8. PMO Users: Gender Breakdown

9. PMO Users: Educational Achievement

10. PMO Users: Employment Sector

11. How can we do better?
And how can we do it together?
 Communication and collaboration between
parliaments and PMOs can be mutually
beneficial
 Parliaments and PMOs that work together
can create better tools for citizens
 Awareness of the digital divide and its
potential impact can ensure all
organisations work and innovate together to
eliminate it

12. www.mySociety.org