Tech Can Help Cities Rebuild Civic Life, If We Let People In

Hollie Russon Gilman and Sarah Jacob wrote for Next City on how digital tools are being experimented with across the country for public participation.

They lower the barriers to engagement, making it easier for people to be heard. They amplify collective intelligence, not just individual opinions. Perhaps most importantly, they rebuild trust by showing residents that their ideas matter, that civic processes are responsive and that democracy can still be a two-way street.

But the rise of civic tech also raises big questions. Who controls the platforms and data collected? How are public inputs translated into policy? Are there feedback loops to translate residents’ preferences, hopes and ideas into policy making? And if not, how is that accurately and effectively conveyed back to participants? Are the tools truly deliberative? What is the fine line between sentiment mining, analysis, and genuine deliberation and participation?