Does the Internet Liberate or Undermine Democracy?
Arguments that it Liberates
It has provided the best form of mass communication which is free from central control.
Anyone with something to say (serious or important) can speak out or publish it on the internet for anyone to read without fear or censor. For some this has undoubtedly brought a kind of freedom.
A good website provides strength in numbers to the isolated. Individuals will gain strength and support when they see that others also share their views. Some websites can act as petitions against government policies although there is no inevitability that an e-petition will redirect government policy. Tony Blair's view, which is shared by many others is that if a policy is controversial, it is a good idea to use the net to test the strength of the opposition.
It has helped to empower ordinary people. Customers receiving unfair treatment from large corporations or banks or institutions can tip the balance a little in their favour to receive better treatment by using the internet to express their opinion.
The internet can be an accurate instrument, if used properly, to conduct opinion polls wholly online, although as with any sampling exercise care has to be taken to search for the elusive opinion.
Arguments that it Undermines
E-democracy automatically excludes those who do not have or cannot afford computers. There is less home ownership of computers in the lower socio-economic groups than the higher groups. Also, internet voting is not reliable and open to misuse.
Online petitions and blogs provide a lazy form of political activism, much loved by cranks. The internet can be misleading as it is not clear how representative petitions are. It takes much less effort to click the mouse than it does to go on a demonstration or go to the polling booth.
Terrorists and other sinister groups enlist through the internet.