Anti-Corruption 2.0: What’s your say on corruption?

Elections in Iran earlier this year attracted worldwide attention especially with traditional media facing restrictions in reporting and after Iranians have started sharing their thoughts through blogging, posting to facebook and coordinating their protests on twitter - from cell phone cameras capturing scenes of violence that otherwise would go unreported to Twitter feeds used to organize massive protests. Two months after, the keyword #iranelections remains among the top topics on twitter.

This is just one recent example for how internet-based social media has profoundly changed the way we engage with others in the private and public sphere. Social activists, political campaigners, NGOs, government and business all increasingly make use of the connective power of these communication tools to mobilise support, produce knowledge, deliver services and engage with their stakeholders. Inspiring examples for innovative use of social media tools for fighting corruption and fostering sustainable development have emerged all over the world.

Social media - technology that allows users to share content on the web and interact easily with each other goes one step further. With better access to the internet and new services such as blogging platforms, youtube, facebook or flickr, summarised under the concept of web2.0, users have increasingly started to not only consume, but produce and share their ideas, texts and images. Social media empowers citizens to voice concerns, share observations and engagement in addressing and reporting corrupt activities themselves.

http://www.transparency.org/news_room/in_focus/2009/your_say_on_corruption