Chancellor of the Government in Dubai Highlights Effective Use of the Digital Age
Governance based on democratic processes is tailor-made for the digital age - it is able to reconcile technological advances with the protection of individual freedoms, stated the Chancellor of the Government, Giedrė Balčytytė, speaking at the World Governments Summit Forum in Dubai.
On Monday, Balčytyte, who is on a working visit to the United Arab Emirates, took part in a forum discussion on the importance of data for effective governance and the well-being of modern societies. The World Governments Summit is an international forum bringing together heads of state and leaders of business, academia, and other fields since 2013.
“On one side, we see ever increasing demands of citizens. They are used to instant responses, online services and next day delivery. This is what they expect from governments,” spoke the Chancellor of the Government, Giedrė Balčytytė.
Through rich data we can better understand complex phenomena, identify real problems and find precise solutions to them, and monitor progress and respond with new measures where needed.
But digital reality comes at a price, first and foremost the challenges to privacy and the resulting fears of "total control". The fruits of digitalisation must be accessible to all groups in society, regardless of their wealth or education, the Chancellor added. According to Balčytytė, it is democratic processes that can best meet these citizens' expectations and address the challenges of digitisation.
“Democracies are slow as their processes must be inclusive, which sometimes can be super frustrating. But I believe democracies are naturally born for the digital age. They are designed with checks and balances, capable to protect our islands of privacy and force a machine of the government to play by rules,” stressed G. Balčytytė.
In the debate "Social Prosperity and Technophobia: Can Governments Succeed?" the Chancellor of the Government noted that while governments do not create technology themselves, but the private sector does, only government engagement and cooperation can help ensure that digital services reach everyone and are accessible to every group in society.