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Wednesday, November 5, 2003
THE BATTALK
U.N. says not enough governments are onlin
By Mark Stevenson
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MEXICO CITY — Most of the world’s
nations have their own Web sites, but only
20 percent of people with Internet access
use them, according to a U.N. report
released Tuesday.
A total of 173 of the U.N.’s 191 members
had Web sites in 2003, according to the U.N.
World Report on the Public Sector, entitled
“E-Govemment at the Crossroads.” Just two
years ago, 143 nations had Web sites.
Only 18 countries, many in Africa,
remain completely off-line.
In many countries, women and the poor
have less access to the Internet than other
sectors. “Security and privacy issues” also
discourage use among all populations, the
report noted.
The Internet has more potential for gov
ernments than simply being a place for cit
izens to easily access basic information
and forms.
“Many governments turn to Internet-based
services as a way to cut red tape,” said Jose
Antonio Ocampo, the U.N. undersecretary-
general for economic and social affairs. “But
we also see the Internet as a means of advanc
ing and consolidating transparency and
democracy.”
While Web-based
access can link citi
zens to everything
from schools to hos
pitals and libraries,
only a few govern
ment sites encour
age users to help
make policy, the
report said.
“Only a very few
We... see the Internet as a means
of advancing and consolidating
transparency and democracy.
]ose Antonio Ocampo
U.N. undersecretary
tunity to getijm
and easy access
information,"
report said.
In another it
ing for “e-j
tion,” or the
ment’s wil
to interact
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governments have opted to use e-govem-
ment applications for transactional services
or networking, and even fewer use it to sup
port genuine participation of citizens in pol
itics,” it said.
The United States led the rankings of e-
govemment “readiness,” or the amount of
information, services and products offered
over the Internet combined with the infra
structure needed to access them.
Sweden ranked second, followed by
Australia, Denmark, Great Britain, Canada,
Norway, Switzerland, Germany and Finland.
Most Americans who use government
Web sites get tourism information, do
research for school or work, download gov
ernment forms or get information on services.
“U.S. users perceive the availability of e-
government first and foremost as an oppor-
the United States for the top spot.
The top 10 included New
France, the Netherlands, Ireland andseti
developing countries — Chile, Estonia.
Philippines, Mexico and Argentina.
Estonia, for example, has a site cal
“Today I Decide” at which people can[r
pose, amend, and vote on policy issue
Officials then are required to consider I
proposals.
Only 15 governments in the world aa;
Internet comment on public policy issues;
only 33 allow government transactions,
filing forms or paying fines, over the Imer
At least 60 percent of all e-govemit;
projects in developing countries fail,]
about half waste some taxpayer money,i
report said.
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