Cyberocracy

Part of the Politics series
Basic forms of government
Aristocracy Autocracy Communist state Confederation Consociationalism Corporatocracy Demarchy Democracy Despotism Empire Ethnocracy Fascist state Federation Feudalism Gerontocracy Green state Hierocracy Isocracy Interregnum Kleptocracy Kritocracy Logocracy Matriarchy Meritocracy Minarchism Monarchy Nation state Ochlocracy Oligarchy Parliamentary state Patriarchy Provisional government Polyarchy Presidential Puppet state Republic Socialist state Stratocracy Supranational union Technocracy Thalassocracy Theocracy Timocracy Tribe Tyranny Unitary state List of forms of government
Politics portal
v · d · e

Cyberocracy describes a form of government or an element of a government that rules by the effective use of information. The exact nature of a cyberocracy is largely speculative as currently there have been no cybercractic governments, however, a growing number prototype cybercratic elements can currently be found in many developed nations.

The fundamental feature of a cyberocracy would be the rapid transmission of relevant information from the source of a problem to the people in a position able to fix said problem, most likely via a system of interconnected computer networks and automated information sorting software, with human decision makers only be called into use in the case of unusual problems, problem trends, or through an appeal process pursued by an individual. Cyberocracy is the functional antithesis of traditional bureaucracies which sometimes notoriously suffer from fiefdomism, slowness, and a list of other unfortunate qualities. Ultimately a cyberocracy may use administrative AIs if not an AI as head of state forming a Machine Rule government.

Etymology

Cyberocracy, from the roots "cyber-" and "-cracy," signifies rule by way of information, especially when using interconnected computer networks.

Examples

The Stasi of East Germany could be considered a prototype cybercratic organization. The Stasi collected files on 6 million people, or a little over 1/3 of East Germany's total population, but their lack of computers to sort through the files was causing them to choke on their own file system, thus reducing their effective use of information. A cybercratic government would need to quickly and effectively manage the file of 100% of the nation's people plus any relevant foreigners.

The no fly list is an example of a prototype cybercratic element. Its substantial false positive ratio is its primary failure of effectiveness.

Internet Relay Chat and Internet forums are an example of cybercratic society.

Sources and references

All Connected Now by Walter, Truett Anderson

Encyclopedia of Digital Government by Ari-Veikko Anttiroiko (Editor), Matti Malkia (Editor)