The latest edition of the IPU’s World e-Parliament Report 2024 highlights significant progress in the digital landscape of legislatures worldwide. However, the report also points out an increasing digital divide between rich and poor parliaments, which can have an impact on the quality of democracy.
This is the eighth edition of the biennal IPU report, produced by the IPU’s Centre for Innovation in Parliament. The findings are based on survey responses from 115 parliamentary chambers in 86 countries and supranational parliaments.
IPU Secretary General, Martin Chungong, said: ‘Parliaments cannot afford to fall behind as society embraces new technology. The future quality of democracy and its institutions are at stake. A digitally advanced parliament is a stronger, more effective, more transparent and more accountable parliament. This report shows how innovation and technology in parliaments can help them deliver better outcomes for the people.’
Key findings conclude that digital transformation in parliament
s is gaining momentum. Over two-thirds (68 percent) of parliaments now have multi-year digital strategies, and 73 percent have formal modernisation programmes.
Country income level is the most significant predictor of digital maturity. Parliaments in high-income countries rank highly but about two-thirds of parliaments in low-income countries fall into the category of least digitally mature.
Cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly being adopted in parliaments, with 68 percent using cloud services and 29 percent embracing AI tools. Cybersecurity is a top priority, with 70 percent of parliaments adopting national cybersecurity standards and 53 percent having internal cybersecurity strategies.
The share of parliaments participating in the IPU’s Centre for Innovation in Parliament has increased from 27 percent in 2020 to 45 percent in 2024. Seventy per cent of parliaments surveyed expressed willingness to provide support to others.
This edition of the report introduces the IPU Digita
l Maturity Index, a pioneering tool to help parliaments assess their progress across six key areas including governance, infrastructure and public engagement.
Legislatures in Europe and the Americas lead the way on digital maturity, while those in the Pacific region and sub-Saharan Africa are struggling to keep pace.
The report makes the following recommendations for parliaments:
Develop clear digital strategies
Allocate adequate resources
Establish robust governance frameworks
Invest in capacity-building
Prioritize public engagement
Strengthen inter-parliamentary collaboration
Source: Emirates News Agency