Teachers can use this module as a reference tool. Technology in communication and information has developed into a potent weapon against corrupt practises. Since information can now go around the world in a matter of minutes and viral photographs or videos captured by citizen journalists can be used as evidence of corruption or other problems, it is clear that ICT-based social media has brought a new dimension to the fight against corruption. Furthermore, the international community might utilise these films and photographs to exert pressure on States, which may prompt the government to take action. Local CSOs can now reach a wider audience and cooperate together on investigations thanks to the Internet.
When it comes to combating corruption and encouraging more citizen involvement in anti-corruption initiatives, ICT can be helpful in a number of ways. Information sharing: Technology can be utilised to create a forum where details of corruption cases can be discussed, perhaps increasing public outcry and serving as a deterrent. Examples of such sites may be seen in India, where crowdsourced data on various sorts of bribery on demand is made available. There is anecdotal evidence to show that those who demand bribes in places where these platforms are used become more reticent for fear of being identified on these platforms (Kannaiah, 2016). Government process and service automation, digitization, and the use of blockchain-enabled platforms: As a result of technological advancements, government workers in several capacities now spend less time interacting directly with the general population.
Automation has the potential to restrict the discretion of public officials, boost openness, and make corrupt deals more challenging to pull off. For instance, from 2002 to 2016, Adam Smith International worked to modernise Afghanistan’s tax administration system, which led to a decrease in corruption and an increase in tax revenue collection by an order of magnitude (ASI, 2016). Furthermore, as this demonstrates, automation and digitalization may create a verifiable audit trail that makes it difficult to hide corrupt transactions. This is an intended advantage of the blockchain’s distributed ledger system.offers a comprehensive breakdown of the inner workings of the blockchain. The secure, tamper-proof, and transparent nature of the technology’s data transport contributed to its rise to prominence.
With data stored in numerous devices rather than a single server and robust encryption, the system is almost hack-proof. However, once data is entered into the system, it cannot be altered or removed due to the encryption. Furthermore, the information is always publicly accessible and traceable because to the blockchain’s open source code. In particular, if government services were offered on a blockchain-enabled platform, it would be easier to detect and punish instances of fraud. When government services are automated and digitised, citizens have more access to information, which improves their ability to comprehend and participate in important activities, including keeping tabs on financial dealings and spotting fraud.
Big data analytics: Information and communication technology (ICT) allows people and civil society actors to utilise big data in a way that can aid in targeted change and reforms and the knowledge of trends and patterns pertinent to anti-corruption enforcement. For example, a collaborative effort between UK academic institutions and the African Mathematical Institute analysed seven years’ worth of data on public procurement contracts funded by Tanzania’s development banks (see this 2017 article by David-Barrett for more details). Procurement fraud and other forms of corruption may be revealed by analysing data sets such financial disclosure, beneficial ownership, firm data, financial intelligence data, tax authority data, and procurement data. Next: