Internet democracye-democracy / electronic democracy, especially related to projects and concepts centered on using the Internet (and not other electronic communications technologies like short message services or teletext) for deliberative and participatory aims. Concrete implementations of internet democracy projects include electronic town hall meetings or citizen consultations, the use of discussion boards on party or candidate websites and the virtualization of traditional political institutions or mechanisms like party conventions, protest marches or petitions.
While some see internet democracy in its different flavors as the next step towards 'real democracy', and as the tool that finally helps to eliminate the distance constraints in direct democracy and increase the degree of interaction between politicians and the public, others compare it with similar hypes which came with every new medium, especially radio broadcasting (Bertold Brechts utopia), cable television (teledemocracy) and VCRs.
Internet democracy is also used in reference to:
- the self-regulation of the Internet through "running code", RFCss and expert boards, mainly in the late 1990s.
- the participation of Internet users worldwide in non-governmental bodies that are setting Internet policy, to advocate that these bodies adhere to principles of open participation, public accountability and human rights.
- CitizenSpace/UKonline -- Citizens shape government policy by taking part in online consultations.
- Democracy 2.0 -- A political science research project dedicated to promoting and effecting Pervasive Democracy and direct, nonpartisan resolution of community issues in U.S. states and localities.
- ICANN at Large Member Signup -- Individual participation in the governance of the Internet.
- International E-Democracy Meetup Day
- Internet Democracy Project