E-Government Initiatives Through Cloud Computing

Abstract

The recent development of Web 2.0, cloud computing and its related technologies are contributing towards the tendency to utilize mobile services and e-participation through Web 2.0. It offers users the ability to have greater control of information flow in public spaces, making active participation highly possible. Citizens are empowered in the sense that they control the process of interaction(s), either with the government or with other citizens. This chapter presents a model for empowerment of citizens in e-government systems to enhance e-participation in e-government business processes through the cloud. We believe cloud computing is a platform to implement e-participation using Web 2.0 as many of the existing Web 2.0 applications are deployed in the cloud. The model is derived based on contemporary literature on empowerment and participation in e-government services. This model is expected to fill the gap in identifying a strategy of citizen empowerment in e-participation systems.