Prof Vincent Homburg: “Society has developed a tendency to turn all kinds of political problems into technological ones”

On Thursday, 6 April 2023, Vincent Homburg, Professor of E-Governance at the University of Tartu, gave his inaugural lecture on "The Politics of E-Governance".

With increased digitalization, use of algorithms and big data in our societies, a political studies perspective may be more needed than ever before. In his lecture, Prof Vincent Homburg explained his research on relationships between politics and e-governance that centers around two questions. The first one is how and why digital technologies influence behaviours of politicians, policymakers, public officials, citizens, and the relationship between them, and the second one is how and why these actors use technologies in their interactions. 

He explained that one of the guiding ideas behind many e-government initiatives is that technologies are neutral and autonomously work their way to producing better public services, more democracy and better accountability. In reality, technologies, including artificial intelligence applications, are more than we realize, shaped by cultural, economic and political biases, and therefore, technologies are not neutral but have political significance and political impact.

A good example is the emergence of social media platforms as opportunities for citizens to speak up and participate in public debates about societal issues. Social media platforms were never designed as platforms for political participation and deliberation, or to allow for rational, inclusive debates. It is increasingly becoming clear that social media algorithms are configured to prioritise controversial and emotionally appealing contents over rational facts-based contributions because the former attracts users’ attention better. We can observe again and again how polarization takes precedence over an open and rational debates, and the idea of a public sphere is increasingly replaced by digital islands of isolation that are drifting further apart.

Prof Vincent Homburg emphasized that e-governance and digital innovations are in desperate need of responsible innovation, a form of innovation that is not only daring and pragmatic, but that also does not walk away from addressing political questions related to justice, fairness, equality and democracy in the development, implementation and use of rogue digital innovations. Professor Homburg concluded his lecture by stating how he deeply admires and appreciates Estonian pragmatism, digital enthusiasm and the digital mindset in Estonia, and that with his research and outreach activities, he hopes to achieve that Estonia will not only brand itself as an e-governance frontrunner, but that Estonia will also be able to present itself as a global e-governance responsible innovation champion.

Rewatch the inauguration lecture here.