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Vertical Crowdsourcing (Russia) (view source)

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|style="font-size:1.1em;"| ‘Vertical crowdsourcing’ refers to the ways in which digital technologies can be
|style="font-size:1.1em;"| ‘Vertical crowdsourcing’ refers to the ways in which digital technologies can be harnessed by state institutions to create a semblance of openness and participation, while in
harnessed by state institutions to create a semblance of openness and participation, while in
practice neutralising citizens’ activity and exerting control over them. ‘Crowdsourcing’ in its regular sense refers to ‘the practice of obtaining information or services by soliciting input
practice neutralising citizens’ activity and exerting control over them. ‘Crowdsourcing’ in its
from a large number of people, typically via the Internet and often without offering compensation’<ref>Oxford English Dictionary. 2016. Entry on ‘crowdsourcing’ (Oxford: Oxford University
regular sense refers to ‘the practice of obtaining information or services by soliciting input
Press)</ref>. In ‘vertical crowdsourcing’, state authorities solicit such participation in order to fake or control it.
from a large number of people, typically via the Internet and often without offering
compensation’<ref>Oxford English Dictionary. 2016. Entry on ‘crowdsourcing’ (Oxford: Oxford University
Press)</ref>. In ‘vertical crowdsourcing’, state
authorities solicit such participation in order to fake or control it.
|}
|}


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surveillance and control over individual users<ref>Morozov, E. 2011. The Net Delusion: The Dark Side of Internet Freedom, New York: Public
surveillance and control over individual users<ref>Morozov, E. 2011. The Net Delusion: The Dark Side of Internet Freedom, New York: Public
Affairs.</ref><ref>Gunitsky S., Corrupting the Cyber-Commons: Social Media as a Tool of Autocratic Stability,
Affairs.</ref><ref>Gunitsky S., Corrupting the Cyber-Commons: Social Media as a Tool of Autocratic Stability,
Perspectives on Politics 13.1, March 2015, p.42-54, doi.org/10.1017/S1537592714003120</ref>. The
Perspectives on Politics 13.1, March 2015, p.42-54, doi.org/10.1017/S1537592714003120</ref>.  
 
The
ambivalence at the heart of ‘vertical crowdsourcing’ relies on the capacity of digital
ambivalence at the heart of ‘vertical crowdsourcing’ relies on the capacity of digital
platforms to simultaneously replicate two layers of the relationship between institutions and
platforms to simultaneously replicate two layers of the relationship between institutions and
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two simultaneous roles: subjects taking part in activity directed at specific goals alongside
two simultaneous roles: subjects taking part in activity directed at specific goals alongside
institutional actors; and objects of institutional actors’ activity that seeks to control and
institutional actors; and objects of institutional actors’ activity that seeks to control and
govern the users. It is the capacity of information technologies to produce symbolic (i.e. fake)
govern the users.
 
It is the capacity of information technologies to produce symbolic (i.e. fake)
constructions of transparency, accountability and user empowerment that enables their users
constructions of transparency, accountability and user empowerment that enables their users
to be constituted as subjects and objects at the same time: the digital user is a subject in the
to be constituted as subjects and objects at the same time: the digital user is a subject in the
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the data is not provided in a useable format. Accordingly, while in general open data
the data is not provided in a useable format. Accordingly, while in general open data
contributes to transparency, providing such data can also be a symbolic act that portrays an
contributes to transparency, providing such data can also be a symbolic act that portrays an
organisation as transparent, while in reality contributing little to transparency. A second set of
organisation as transparent, while in reality contributing little to transparency.  
 
A second set of
tools dealing with transparency and accountability is crowdsourcing platforms that aggregate
tools dealing with transparency and accountability is crowdsourcing platforms that aggregate
information about problems and promise to resolve the issues reported. In 2011 as a part of
information about problems and promise to resolve the issues reported. In 2011 as a part of
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Construction of Statehood, in “Bits and Atoms Information and Communication Technology
Construction of Statehood, in “Bits and Atoms Information and Communication Technology
in Areas of Limited Statehood”. Ed.: S. Livingston and G. Walter-Drop, Oxford University
in Areas of Limited Statehood”. Ed.: S. Livingston and G. Walter-Drop, Oxford University
Press 2013.</ref>. For example, local authorities in many countries
Press 2013.</ref>.  
 
For example, local authorities in many countries
use websites in order to allow citizens to submit reports about various type of problems e.g.
use websites in order to allow citizens to submit reports about various type of problems e.g.
potholes and other infrastructural issues. In principle, the submission of a report to the
potholes and other infrastructural issues. In principle, the submission of a report to the
website should lead to action taken by the authorities to resolve the problem. However, such
website should lead to action taken by the authorities to resolve the problem. However, such
websites can serve as tools that satisfy citizens’ need to complain easily, but with no
websites can serve as tools that satisfy citizens’ need to complain easily, but with no
consequent action taken by the authorities – or even worse, the faking of action taken. For
consequent action taken by the authorities – or even worse, the faking of action taken.  
 
For
example, following the submission of photo of a courtyard blocked by snow to a website run
example, following the submission of photo of a courtyard blocked by snow to a website run
by the Moscow Mayor's Office, a local official reported that the problem was solved by
by the Moscow Mayor's Office, a local official reported that the problem was solved by
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webcams that broadcasted live video streams from 95,000 polling stations in Russia to a
webcams that broadcasted live video streams from 95,000 polling stations in Russia to a
dedicated platform (http://webvybory2012.ru), where any citizen could follow the voting in every
dedicated platform (http://webvybory2012.ru), where any citizen could follow the voting in every
part of Russia. The Russian authorities used the project to respond to allegations of electoral
part of Russia.  
 
The Russian authorities used the project to respond to allegations of electoral
fraud by claiming that the presidential elections were among the most transparent in
fraud by claiming that the presidential elections were among the most transparent in
international practice. The project thus enabled the government to create a symbolic
international practice. The project thus enabled the government to create a symbolic
construction of transparency that supported the legitimacy of the elections<ref name="asmo />.
construction of transparency that supported the legitimacy of the elections<ref name="asmo />.
While in theory the webcams enabled public scrutiny of electoral conduct to be
While in theory the webcams enabled public scrutiny of electoral conduct to be
crowdsourced, in practice they obstructed it. Crucially, the platform did not allow any action
crowdsourced, in practice they obstructed it.  
 
Crucially, the platform did not allow any action
to be taken once a fraud was detected. It was difficult to retrieve data from the video archive,
to be taken once a fraud was detected. It was difficult to retrieve data from the video archive,
and the courts that considered cases of election fraud did not have a legal foundation to
and the courts that considered cases of election fraud did not have a legal foundation to
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above (i.e. vertical crowdsourcing). In 2014 the Moscow Mayor&#39;s Office introduced a website
above (i.e. vertical crowdsourcing). In 2014 the Moscow Mayor&#39;s Office introduced a website
called ‘Active Citizen’ (http://ag.mos.ru) with the ostensible purpose of allowing Moscow
called ‘Active Citizen’ (http://ag.mos.ru) with the ostensible purpose of allowing Moscow
residents greater participation in decision-making. But independent experts questioned if the
residents greater participation in decision-making.  
 
But independent experts questioned if the
website contributes to participation, with some<ref>Babitzky, A. 2015 Aktivnye grazhdane skladirovany na serverah merii, Vedomosti, 23
website contributes to participation, with some<ref>Babitzky, A. 2015 Aktivnye grazhdane skladirovany na serverah merii, Vedomosti, 23
October, http://www.vedomosti.ru/opinion/columns/2015/10/23/614024-aktivnie-grazhdane-
October, http://www.vedomosti.ru/opinion/columns/2015/10/23/614024-aktivnie-grazhdane-
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votes the website produces a semblance of participation in decision making and creates the
votes the website produces a semblance of participation in decision making and creates the
legitimisation of decisions already made by local authorities, while the actual mechanism of
legitimisation of decisions already made by local authorities, while the actual mechanism of
participation including online voting is not transparent and is open to manipulation. An
participation including online voting is not transparent and is open to manipulation.  
 
An
online media investigation exposed falsification of online decisions, while an opposition local
online media investigation exposed falsification of online decisions, while an opposition local
council member claimed that, ‘Active Citizen is used by the mayor’s office for imitation of
council member claimed that, ‘Active Citizen is used by the mayor’s office for imitation of
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flooding in Krymsk, South Russia, a number of independent projects proposed
flooding in Krymsk, South Russia, a number of independent projects proposed
crowdsourcing mechanisms to facilitate horizontal, citizen-based responses to national
crowdsourcing mechanisms to facilitate horizontal, citizen-based responses to national
emergencies. In 2012, a state-affiliated organisation of emergency responders,
emergencies.
 
In 2012, a state-affiliated organisation of emergency responders,
RosSoyuzSpas, proposed developing a website (http://dobrovoletz.rf) as a platform to facilitate
RosSoyuzSpas, proposed developing a website (http://dobrovoletz.rf) as a platform to facilitate
emergency response volunteering. Any citizen interested in volunteering in emergency
emergency response volunteering. Any citizen interested in volunteering in emergency
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not allow to the users to select their form of participation. What it actually created was a
not allow to the users to select their form of participation. What it actually created was a
registry of potential volunteers that was controlled by the owners of the platform.
registry of potential volunteers that was controlled by the owners of the platform.
Accordingly, while the official purpose of the platform was supporting citizen engagement in
Accordingly, while the official purpose of the platform was supporting citizen engagement in
emergency response, its actual purpose was controlling the potential independent volunteers
emergency response, its actual purpose was controlling the potential independent volunteers
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Global Voices Online, 22 December, https://globalvoices.org/2015/12/22/massive-
Global Voices Online, 22 December, https://globalvoices.org/2015/12/22/massive-
livejournal-troll-network-pushes-pro-kremlin-narratives/</ref> and state-sponsored vigilantism.
livejournal-troll-network-pushes-pro-kremlin-narratives/</ref> and state-sponsored vigilantism.
For instance, the MediaGvardia website presents itself as an opportunity to participate in
For instance, the MediaGvardia website presents itself as an opportunity to participate in
civic internet regulation by finding content which is prohibited according to Russian law (for
civic internet regulation by finding content which is prohibited according to Russian law (for
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