Our government and the world wide web can they co-exist?

One of the most efficient uses of the internet is the dissemination of information, followed by the convenience of online services (i.e. shopping, online tax filing, etc.). These two basic purposes have spawned the success of many private owned corporations as well as non-profit organizations and most recently the viral, widespread use of social media sites. So what measures the success of the internet? Is it the large-scale influence? Is it its widespread use? Or can it be attributed to the increasing number of users? While we can argue each of these points extensively there is a larger issue at hand that is hovering overhead – at what point does it merit regulation – if it merits regulation at all. Further, should government be responsible or play a role in this at all?

Let’s begin by examining the government current use of the internet.  One of its most efficient uses for the government has been e-filing of taxes.  It has allowed for individuals to quickly and easily file their taxes.   It’s beneficial to all parties involved in the process, as it reduces the environmental concerns with so much paper been used, individuals time and avoiding errors in processing your taxes.    Some may argue that their privacy is at risk and that their tax information may end up in the wrong hands.  This reminds me of how people viewed e-commerce at the beginning and that it was not going to work since our credit card information was going to end up in the hands of a hacker.   The development of the Word wide web has added much value to our daily lives and I believe that government use of e-filing is something that will be for here for a long time.   

E-filing maybe a good use of the world wide web by our government but can it go beyond e-filing?   Another use in our local government is having the ability to conduct hall meetings virtually or at least allow individuals to gather virtually online and voice their opinion.  One of the great thing about our government is that we are democratic and that we have at least some say in how our government runs itself or conducts itself with in our society.  If we don't agree how things are going we get to choose and kick the people who are power out the door and have others have a chance to represent us.   A virtual town meeting gives access to the old and the young to equally participate and voice their view on how our local government is going to decide on a particular issue at hand.  Of course there has to be a method in which you can validate those individual users who belong to a particular municipality to voice for their own issues and not someone who is from another part of the country to have a say.  While you may feel that your opinion or your views can be logged for ever once you say how you feel about a particular issue, a citizen can be protected by the use of an alias so that others in the town meeting can really determine who you are, but of course validated by our local government that you have a right to speak during the town meeting.

The internet has been evolving over the past 15 years and we can already see how it has benefited us in many ways; from e-commerce, to researching, to e-filing and assembling as a group of individuals to speak to our government.   I believe this is just the beginning and that while some of us may feel our privacy is at risk, you have to welcome change with an open mind and see the benefits of what the world wide web has offered amongst other industries and things that affect our daily life.   The role of government and the use of the world wide web will be intertwine for years to come; how we view this is up to us.