"While sweeping vision can propel digital development, a too-grandiose approach may result in failures or expensive white elephants, and despite the Internet's reputation for economy of operation, new systems can be costly," the report says.
"Because of a high rate of failure of specific e-government projects in developed as well as developing countries, bricks-and-mortar public services need to be maintained even as digital applications are increasing."
Security and privacy issues can discourage potential users and disadvantaged groups, like the poor and, in some cases, women, lack access to computers. Even among those with Internet access only one in five, or fewer, engages in online communication with a government, the report says.
In that regard, the United Kingdom tops the list of countries where the government has opened itself up to interaction over the Internet with its citizens. The others, in order, are the United States, Canada and Chile (tie), Estonia, New Zealand, Philippines, France and the Netherlands (tie), Australia, Mexico and a three-way tie between Argentina, Ireland and Sweden.
Only 15 governments so far have put up online services for public comment on policy issues, it says.
"Many governments turn to Internet-based services as a way to cut red tape, or to spread digital infrastructure," Jose Antonio Ocampo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said at the launching of the report.
"But we also see the Internet as a means of advancing and consolidating transparency and democracy into the overall practice of public administration. For that reason, we attach great importance to the category of 'e-participation' in our global survey and analysis."
The other category is e-readiness, the provision of government services and products online, combined with extensive telecom infrastructure and public education. The top 10 countries, in order, are the United States, Sweden, Australia, Denmark, Britain, Canada, Norway, Switzerland, Germany and Finland.
Quelle: UN News Centre, 04.11.2003
