DSG and the General Information Authority (GIA) conducted a two-day policy forum on May 17-18 to explore recent international trends in the utilization of social networking tools by governments, and to identify potential opportunities and threats created by these technologies for the government and society in the UAE. “Social Networking Technologies for Better e-Governance and Fostering a Knowledge Society in the UAE” brought together federal and local government UAE officials, academic experts and researchers from DSG, and private sector practitioners and members of the public, to discuss the potential of social networking technologies for better governance and the promotion of a knowledge society in the UAE. Speakers and panelists included Hosam Al-Sokkari, former Head of BBC Arabic, in addition to representatives from the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, the Government of Dubai’s Media Office, and the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority.
On May 17, a panel discussion on “UAE Society and the Impact of Social Networking” found that while the absence of firm privacy laws protecting the users of online platforms restricts them from providing feedback on policy reform, government entities are also wary of incorporating feedback received through these channels in the policy formation process. Featuring Emirati social networking activists Amal Al-Mutawa, Anisa Al-Sharif, Aida Al Busaidy and Mishaal Al-Gergawi, the panel addressed the issue of perceived unreliability associated with information available on social networks.
Panelists agreed that officials within the government and private entities would value the findings extracted through research conducted on social media networks only if the results of surveys were used in tandem with other studies using more traditional research tools. The discussion further touched upon the lack of proper awareness about how to utilize various tools provided on online platforms, as well as the personal nature of this media and the implications of one’s comments on social networks, pointing to the blurring of lines between the user’s professional and personal identities.
The second day of the policy forum featured a closed government policy workshop, with representatives from UAE federal government entities drafting policies for government utilization of social networking tools to better engage UAE society.
Research conducted by DSG’s program on governance and innovation indicates that a high level of awareness exists within the UAE government about the benefits of utilizing social networking technologies in government and society. The study also indicates that 70 percent of Internet users in the UAE are already active on social networking platforms, while 36 percent of the overall UAE population uses Facebook. However, reluctance towards adopting the use of social networks for shaping public policy is attributed to the fundamental challenge of trust between government entities and the public at large.
According to Fadi Salem, Program Director and Fellow at DSG: “The forum aimed to build the way towards what is increasingly known as Government 2.0 in the UAE. The UAE, with its young population and its critical mass of Internet users, is ready to move to more engagement with the online community.
“In our national survey conducted across the seven emirates, government officials indicated that social networking technologies are among the top three approaches that can enable cross-government collaboration, better transparency, increase levels of innovation and trust in the UAE government.”
Salem Khamis Al Shaer, General Manager of GIA, said: “Communication techniques via the Internet can no longer be ignored, both in the individual or institutional context. Many governments around the world are using the tools of second-generation Internet (Web 2.0) to promote social participation, improve mechanisms for decision making, enhance government services, and develop the work of governments.
“This forum has come to answer a set of important questions, such as whether the government should distance itself from Facebook and Twitter and other tools of the next generation of the Internet, if these tools have become absolutely necessary, as well as the inherent challenges and the possible opportunities that must be relied on for communicating with various audience segments.” |