Yesterday, I took part in a lively debate at the Future Democracy 2009 event on the net’s role in boosting transparency in light of the MPs’ expenses scandal. Heather Brooke, the campaigner and journalist responsible for forcing Parliament to disclose MPs’ expenses under the Freedom of Information Act, and James Crabtree, managing editor of Prospect, were both on the panel. With the parliamentary expenses scandal at the heart of the discussion, we examined the issue of transparency, and whether or not ‘naked transparency’, as Professor Lessig refers to it, is a good thing for democracy and the functioning of government.
My view is that transparency in politics and government is a good thing. The parliamentary expenses scandal was a shocking abuse of trust and public money that highlighted a stark lack of judgement on behalf of many of our political representatives. Nonetheless, I don’t believe transparency itself is a fundamental good in and of itself and we must consider its consequences. The natural evolution of extreme transparency has the potential to impact personal privacy as our politicians are increasingly expected to reveal details of their relationships, health status and extended family issues. Something I personally believe is going too far. This type of extreme transparency has the potential to destabilise institutions and create a political class fearful of making decisions.
Heather passionately advocated the transparency movement arguing it was the only way to shed light upon our outdated institutions, hold our politicians to account and restore public trust in democracy. She outlined the extreme reluctance and intransigence of the parliamentary authorities as they systematically refused to release expenses information and continually put up blocks to investigation.
James talked compellingly about how we are currently living in a low trust, low transparency political culture and how we should be looking at how to transition to a high trust, high transparency political culture – not an easy task. Whilst welcoming greater transparency he cautioned that too much too soon may well have the opposite effect to that which is desired.
The debate about political transparency is set to continue. My view is that this debate is set to also spread more fiercely to the business, personal and public service sphere in 2010.