The 3 Ts for a more resilient society: Technology, trust and transparency

In its annual ranking of 180 countries, Transparency International found that 124 countries had stagnant corruption levels, and more countries were in decline than improving.

On a 100-point scale, the global average score was 43.2 points, and two-thirds of countries scored less than 50 points on the CPI scale.

Western Europe and the European Union had the highest regional score (66), while Sub-Saharan Africa had the lowest (32).

Despite receiving the highest regional score in the ranking, 62% of people surveyed in the EU reported transparency was a problem in their country, with three in ten directly experiencing corruption in the form of paying bribes or using personal connections to access public services, especially healthcare.

In its annual measure of transparency in 141 countries that are eligible for US aid, the US Department of State reported that 72 countries met the minimum requirements to be considered fiscally transparent. 69 countries did not meet the minimum requirements, and only 27 made significant progress over the measured one-year period.

Establishing trust and transparency with the tech industry

Trust and transparency is the solution to stagnating corruption levels. Public administration reform, ethics enforcement, open budget processes, and public-private partnerships are ways in which local and national governments have been able to improve transparency in governance processes, according to the International City/Country Management Association.

A 2015 Pew Research Center surveyed American adults about the possible impacts of data sharing.

A slight majority believed Open Data would impact journalists’ ability to cover government activities and make government officials more accountable to the public. 53% of respondents believed it would not result in better decisions by government officials.

This research found there was a correlation between believing Open Data would impact government performance and trust in the government, with those that already trust the government being more likely to have hope for the benefits of Open Data. This illustrates the interconnectedness of trust and transparency.

Making data accessible is important

Making data accessible and linking fragmented data sources is still a major challenge for national governments.

Data is not always readily available, and there is often little transparency on what data the government stores about citizens or how it is used.

Having access to information is not enough. A 2019 survey experiment in Buenos Aires found that being able to access information did not impact respondents’ perceptions of government transparency, suggesting that improving those perceptions requires governments to bring information directly to citizens and guarantee the accuracy of that information.

Technology helps governments convey information effectively

Technology can help to fill the gap, allowing governments to more effectively convey information to citizens.

When it comes to disaster response and recovery, transparency and technology go hand in hand. For individuals and organisations to make informed decisions during a crisis, they need access to accurate and up-to-date information.

Technology can collect, analyse, and disseminate this information, and transparency ensures that it is readily available and accessible. For example, mass notification systems that utilise technology to disseminate information can only be effective if they are transparent.

This means that individuals and organisations are more likely to trust the technology if it has been proven to be reliable.

Improving trust and transparency

Trust is the most important component of this equation, as without it, there can be no acceptance of technology. Both trust and transparency in government, however, is on the decline globally. A survey of Europeans found that between 2020 and 2022, trust in national institutions decreased by 13.4% while trust in national governments decreased by 24.5%.

The OECD Trust Survey found an even split between those that trust their government and those that do not. In both surveys, disadvantaged groups, especially people with financial concerns, reported less trust in their national government. According to the OECD survey, younger people have the lowest levels of trust in their governments.

Technology is the greatest ally of transparency, according to the World Economic Forum. This is because governments are producing more data than ever, and the timely and trustworthy delivery of this data is becoming increasingly important.

If trust is not established and maintained early in the process, acceptance of the technology will never happen.

Additionally, if the technology is misused, once trust has been established, it will be lost immediately and may never be regained.

The OECD identified five ways for governments to address lack of trust, misinformation, and disinformation, beginning with first providing citizens with truthful and accurate information.

Communication is important in crisis management

Communication of information is an important tool for crisis management. Governments must increasingly rely on new technologies to disseminate information in a timely manner.

Combined with trust, transparency can lead to greater rates of participation. In other words, trust and transparency are reinforcing elements that lead to participation.

Influencing the behaviour of individuals requires organisations to properly utilise strategic communications and build quality relationships with individuals. Trust in the organizations disseminating information increased the public’s perceived risks and led to behavioural changes.

When individuals and organisations trust the information they receive and believe organisations are acting in their best interests, they are more likely to act on it to protect themselves and their communities.

Trust in technology can be built by demonstrating that it is being used effectively and responsibly and by showing that the information it provides is accurate and reliable.

Transparency, technology and trust – a reinforcing cycle

Earlier this year, a seminar at Johns Hopkins SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy, focused on the interplay between transparency, technology, and trust.

When asked what makes a government trustworthy, attendees pointed to the importance of the democratic process.

One noted that “having a fair judicial system and transparent law enforcement system are important down the line. But the transfer of power is the bedrock.” Another said: “If you can see that a system is reactive, or if you can see change because of democratic processes, that fosters trust in the government. A good track record is important in building trust.”

A good track record is important in building trust

When discussing the role of technology in increasing trust, an attendee said: “[Technology] increases transparency by making information more available. But it’s also a means of spreading fake information.”

The gap between information availability and trust

The gap between information availability and trust in that information still exists and must be rectified. The mechanisms behind technology are not always clear to users.

This is becoming more critical as new technologies like Artificial Intelligence become capable of processes that even trained professionals cannot explain or fully understand. Trust in technology requires transparency about how that technology operates.

The discussion concluded on the topic of responsibility for communication during crises. Speaking again about the United States, one attendee noted, “The government doesn’t control communication… You’re more likely to hear about [a critical event] from the NY times before you hear about it from your local government… It’s so decentralised.” When there is not a central, trusted source of information during crises, citizens must make quick decisions about what information they can trust.

We must ensure access to accurate information

When the dissemination of information is diffused, the communication process slows down, and there is a greater risk that citizens do not receive lifesaving information in time.

The interplay between transparency, technology, and trust creates a reinforcing cycle that leads to a more resilient society.

As this cycle continues, individuals and organisations become better equipped to respond to critical events, and society as a whole becomes more resilient.

By fostering transparency and ensuring access to accurate information, utilising technology to improve communication and coordination, and building trust through responsible actions and effective use of technology, we can work together to create a society that is better prepared to face the challenges of the future.

Sources

• Corruption Perception Index 2022
• OECD 
• Decades of Distrust, Enduring Support for Its Role – Pew Research Center
• Americans view Open Government Data Pew – Research Center
• OECD Trust in Government Survey

This piece was written and provided by Tracy Reinhold, Chief Security Officer, and Lorenzo Marchetti, Senior Government & Public Affairs Manager, Everbridge