IPU makes clear that parliaments must modernize their digital technologies
For those that wish to protect parliamentary democracy, accelerating the digital transformation will be vital. Unfortunately, however, as the IPU’s 2024 World e-Parliament Report makes clear, a digital divide is fast emerging. On the one hand, modern parliaments use new technologies to speed up their work and connect with their constituencies. On the other hand, many parliaments, especially in lower-income countries, are falling behind. They are struggling to apply the latest digital tools and missing an opportunity to function more effectively and therefore to deliver on their mandate to the people they represent.
In a context where the credibility of parliamentary democracy cannot be taken for granted, it is in all our best interests that parliaments deliver for their people. That requires us to use digital technologies to their fullest potential, collectively working to close the digital gap and support those parliaments that need it most.
As far back as 2008, when the IPU published its first World e-Parliament Report, information and communication technologies (ICT) had already become essential. By enabling parliaments to gather, process and share information, these new technologies allowed parliamentarians to use their time and other limited resources more efficiently. Digitalization was a major opportunity.
It turned out, however, that we had seriously underestimated the importance of this digital transformation. Major global events have shown us since then, for example, that the digital transformation is vital to parliamentary resilience and to protecting our democracies from a range of major threats.
In 2020, for example, when the COVID-19 pandemic raced around the world, parliaments were forced to find new ways of working and – for a significant period – remote working became the new normal. Those parliaments that had begun their digital journey were better placed to make the necessary changes. Parliaments that already had some level of digital infrastructure in place were better able to collaborate despite the restrictions on meeting in person.
Fast forward to 2024, when half the world’s population is voting in some kind of election, some of them with regional or global impact. In some cases, disinformation has become an unwelcome guest, twisting the truth so that citizens are unable to make well-informed decisions. The parliaments best placed to tackle this rapidly emerging threat are those that have the digital tools and appropriate human resources to establish the parliament as a credible source of accurate and relevant information.
WHY TRANSFORM?
For those parliamentary leaders who are still wondering whether to invest in digital transformation, integrating digital technologies into all aspects of their operations, I offer at least three reasons.
First, digital tools enable parliaments to deliver sustainable development. Digital tools improve decision-making and optimize legislative workflows. Legislators and their staff can share information, collaborate effectively, and track the progress of bills without the need for cumbersome paper-based systems. This reduces bureaucratic bottlenecks, lowers administrative costs, and frees up resources for effective use elsewhere.
Second, closely related, the digital transformation helps to protect a parliament’s legitimacy. That legitimacy depends in part on a parliament’s ability to deliver for its people, but digital tools also enable engagement with the wider public. By sharing information – including live broadcasts of parliamentary sessions – parliaments can connect with their populations in ways they could not before. In some cases, digitalization allows parliaments not just to talk to constituents, but to hear from them too.
Third – as we increasingly see – the digital transformation enables parliaments to collaborate more effectively, internally but also with other parliaments around the world. Digital platforms allow parliaments to collaborate, share best practices, and provide mutual support on issues like climate change and conflict.
THE IPU’S CENTRE FOR INNOVATION IN PARLIAMENT (CIP)
All of us in the parliamentary community should encourage our colleagues to push ahead with their digital transformation, in many cases by accessing the IPU’s solid range of resources, and our technical assistance for digital upgrades large and small.
Our Centre for Innovation in Parliament (CIP), for example, brings parliaments together, shares knowledge, and offers a useful platform for the development of good practices on strategic planning, document management and more. More recently, the CIP developed new guidance on the use of artificial intelligence with more planned for release next month.
With the digital revolution evolving rapidly around us, the future of our parliamentary democracies may depend in part on our ability to adapt and to innovate. By investing in the digital transformation today, we will surely be better prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. The last decade or so has showed us that new and unexpected challenges will certainly come.
The digital transformation enables parliaments to be the best possible versions of themselves: effective, transparent and fully engaged with their constituents. It offers extraordinary opportunities to streamline operations and boost productivity. We must all do all that we can to accelerate this digital transformation in our parliaments, at home and all around the world.
Martin Chungong, IPU Secretary General.
IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong and IPU President Tulia Ackson launch the 2024 World e-Parliament Report to the 149th Assembly in Geneva in October.
