E-democracy

Walmart Removes Child Advergame from Roblox After Advocates Send Warning

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Universe, Online, Advertising, PAW Patrol, MGA Entertainment, Deception, E-democracy, COPPA, CARU, Marketing, Parent, Certification, John Simpson (journalist/consumer advocate), Common Sense Media, Walmart, FTC, Child, National Association, Letter, Jurassic World, BBB National Programs, Universe (role-playing game), Dietary supplement, Roblox

The advocacy groups warned in its January letter that the metaverse game, featuring ads, virtual products and characters from Paw Patrol, Jurassic World, L.O.L.

Key Points: 
  • The advocacy groups warned in its January letter that the metaverse game, featuring ads, virtual products and characters from Paw Patrol, Jurassic World, L.O.L.
  • “TINA.org is always pleased when deceptive marketing is removed or corrected, particularly when it impacts a vulnerable population such as young children.
  • We’re glad to see this advergame was removed from Roblox,” said Fairplay campaign director, David Monahan.
  • To read more about deceptive marketing on Roblox see:  www.truthinadvertising.org/brands/roblox

Walmart Deceptively Marketing to Kids on Roblox

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Universe, Online, Marketing, Privacy, E-democracy, Advertising, COPPA, MGA Entertainment, CARU, John Simpson (journalist/consumer advocate), Congress, National Association, Collateral damage, PAW Patrol, Democracy, Universe (role-playing game), Federal Trade Commission, Digital, Letter, FTC, Dietary supplement, Toy, Walmart, Policy, Roblox

According to a letter from TINA.org, Fairplay, Center for Digital Democracy and the National Association of Consumer Advocates, a copy of which was sent to Walmart, Roblox and the FTC, the retail giant is exposing children to deceptive marketing on Roblox , the online gaming and creation platform used by millions of kids on a daily basis.

Key Points: 
  • According to a letter from TINA.org, Fairplay, Center for Digital Democracy and the National Association of Consumer Advocates, a copy of which was sent to Walmart, Roblox and the FTC, the retail giant is exposing children to deceptive marketing on Roblox , the online gaming and creation platform used by millions of kids on a daily basis.
  • Walmart’s first foray into the Roblox metaverse came last September, when it premiered two experiences, Walmart Universe of Play and Walmart Land, which collectively have been visited more than 12 million times.
  • Targeted at – and accessible to – young children on Roblox, Universe of Play features virtual products and characters from L.O.L.
  • The rise of the metaverse has enabled a new category of deceptive marketing practices that are harmful to children.

New Studies: Trust in Elections Shaken By 2020; Huge Gap Between Democrats and Republicans On Confidence in Election Results; Trump Voters Most Likely to Believe Election Was Stolen Tend to Hold Most Conservative Views

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 24, 2021
Public policy, Government, White House, Federal Government, Public policy, Elections, Campaigns, Articles, Democracy, American people of German descent, E-democracy, Politics and technology, Human activities, Donald Trump, Election

Was 2020 different in significant ways, and does that raise serious concerns about the health of our democracy?

Key Points: 
  • Was 2020 different in significant ways, and does that raise serious concerns about the health of our democracy?
  • Today, the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group releases two reports that shed light on these crucial questions.
  • Free and fair elections are a cornerstone of our democracy, but its also important that the public trusts the results of those elections.
  • Unfortunately, the 2020 election cycle and actions of former President Trump have shaken that trust, Voter Study Group Research Director Robert Griffin said.

LendingClub Joins Civic Alliance to Champion Democracy

Retrieved on: 
Monday, May 3, 2021
Articles, LendingClub, Civic engagement, E-democracy, Civic political culture, Politics

Civic Alliance strengthens our democracy by encouraging civic participation, supporting safe, accessible and trusted elections and building an engaged civic culture.\nAs part of LendingClub\'s participation in Civic Alliance, we will continue to encourage all our stakeholders to participate in democracy and advocate for safe, accessible, fair and transparent voting within the United States.\n"Civic engagement is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy," said Armen Meyer, Head of Public Policy and Regulatory Strategy at LendingClub.

Key Points: 
  • Civic Alliance strengthens our democracy by encouraging civic participation, supporting safe, accessible and trusted elections and building an engaged civic culture.\nAs part of LendingClub\'s participation in Civic Alliance, we will continue to encourage all our stakeholders to participate in democracy and advocate for safe, accessible, fair and transparent voting within the United States.\n"Civic engagement is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy," said Armen Meyer, Head of Public Policy and Regulatory Strategy at LendingClub.
  • With its valuable tools, resources, events and partnership opportunities, Civic Alliance helps companies engage employees and consumers as active participants in civic life.\nLendingClub Corporation (NYSE: LC) is the parent company of LendingClub Bank, National Association, Member FDIC.
  • Founded by the CAA Foundation and Democracy Works , Civic Alliance cultivates a community of companies united by a shared belief that an active democracy is good for business, and an engaged business community is good for democracy.
  • With its valuable tools, resources, events and partnership opportunities, Civic Alliance helps companies engage employees and consumers as active participants in civic life.

Democracy Investments Acquires Exclusive Global License for The Economist's Democracy Index

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Articles, Democracy, Political theories, Types of democracy, Democracy Index, Economist Intelligence Unit, Research, E-democracy, Authoritarianism

SAN FRANCISCO, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Democracy Investments , a new company focused on promoting democracy by influencing capital flows in financial markets, has entered an exclusive global license agreement with the publisher of "The Economist," The Economist Group, LTD, for the use of their Democracy Index.

Key Points: 
  • SAN FRANCISCO, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Democracy Investments , a new company focused on promoting democracy by influencing capital flows in financial markets, has entered an exclusive global license agreement with the publisher of "The Economist," The Economist Group, LTD, for the use of their Democracy Index.
  • This agreement will enable Democracy Investments to provide a new international equity index re-weighted toward democracies and away from authoritarian states."
  • Despite the global 'democracy recession' of recent years, 68 countries have improved their scores over the lifetime of the index.
  • Julie and her team believe the Economist's Democracy Index is the most objective and transparent measure of democracy in existence.

Bridging European institutions and citizens: European Citizens' Initiatives must impact the legislative process of the EU

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 5, 2021
Articles, Countries, Law, European Union constitutional law, Direct democracy, Politics of the European Union, European Citizens' Initiative, Initiatives, European Union, Subsidiarity, Treaty of Lisbon, E-democracy

It is an instrument of participatory democracy in the EU, allowing citizens to invite the European Commission to submit a proposal for a legal act to implement the EU Treaties.

Key Points: 
  • It is an instrument of participatory democracy in the EU, allowing citizens to invite the European Commission to submit a proposal for a legal act to implement the EU Treaties.
  • Local and regional authorities are therefore natural partners to promote Europen Citizens Initiatives with a territorial impact.
  • CoR First Vice-President Vasco Cordeiro said:"The European Citizens' Initiatives could represent a remarkable tool to improve democracy in the EU.
  • We must always stand by democracy, better legislation and the principle of active subsidiarity.
  • If they are not properly supported, the Citizens' Initiatives risk failing, creating further frustration among citizens and undermining their trust in the EU.
  • Pedro Silva Pereira , Vice-President of the European Parliament in charge of European democracy and European citizens' initiative said; "The European Citizens' Initiative is an important instrument to promote European participation on the legislative process of the Union.
  • The process, introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon, has been subject to several changes in order to make it of easier access, also ensuring more transparency in the decision-making of the EU.
  • Our committees have an important role as intermediaries at EU but also at national, regional and local level."
  • Voters without border, Full Political Rights for EU Citizens is one of the currently 14 on-going ECIs
    (i.e.

TVO and the Toronto Star reveal new partnership: The Democracy Agenda

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 21, 2021
E-democracy, Politics and technology

The Democracy Agenda, a new partnership between TVO and the Toronto Star launches Friday, January 22, 2021, to examine current and emerging threats to democracy and how they might be countered with inspiring solutions.

Key Points: 
  • The Democracy Agenda, a new partnership between TVO and the Toronto Star launches Friday, January 22, 2021, to examine current and emerging threats to democracy and how they might be countered with inspiring solutions.
  • The Democracy Agenda is a timely opportunity to diagnose where these challenges have come from and how we can meet them.
  • The Democracy Agenda marks an exciting and timely new partnership between TVO and the Toronto Star.
  • The Toronto Star, founded in 1892, is read in print and online ( thestar.com ) by 5.0 million readers every week.

COVID-19 pandemic makes citizens participation in policy making even more pertinent

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, December 12, 2020
Articles, Types of democracy, Direct democracy, Group decision-making, Participatory democracy, Political theories, Deliberative democracy, Citizens' assembly, E-democracy, Non-governmental organization

They expressed unanimously that COVID-19 pandemic with its uncertainties and shared responsibilities makes is even more pertinent to mobilise citizens to share with them not only relevant knowledge, but also to involve them on the governance of political agenda and crisis.

Key Points: 
  • They expressed unanimously that COVID-19 pandemic with its uncertainties and shared responsibilities makes is even more pertinent to mobilise citizens to share with them not only relevant knowledge, but also to involve them on the governance of political agenda and crisis.
  • Against this background, they call for a launch the Conference on the Future of Europe as soon as possible.
  • The German speaking Community in Belgium launched in September 2019 a citizens' assembly and a citizens council that contributes to the drafting of legislation in this region.
  • He said:"The citizens' dialogue in the German-speaking Community is a long-term initiative to test the complementarity between deliberative democracy and representative democracy.The implementation of the results of the citizens' dialogue at parliamentary level plays a decisive role.
  • The original feature of this method is the two-level system with a citizens' council and a citizens' assembly".
  • Dialogue between citizens, civil servants and elected officials helps making our public policies more efficient leveraging the user expertise that only citizens can provide.
  • The target audience comprises of possibly several hundreds of officials and stakeholders from EU, national and regional authorities and NGOs.

Clean Elections and the Democracy Fund Discuss Arizona's Ballot by Mail Preparedness

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Elections, Articles, Voting, Postal voting, Publicly funded elections, E-democracy, Government, Group decision-making

"The contrasting narratives surrounding voting by mail has left some voters with questions about its certainty," said Citizens Clean Elections Commission, Voter Education Director, Gina Roberts.

Key Points: 
  • "The contrasting narratives surrounding voting by mail has left some voters with questions about its certainty," said Citizens Clean Elections Commission, Voter Education Director, Gina Roberts.
  • The " Why Ballot by Mail Works in Arizona" video is a lively discussion with Tammy Patrick and is available on the Citizens Clean Elections website now.
  • The Democracy Fund is an independent and nonpartisan, private foundation that confronts deep-rooted challenges in American democracy while defending against new threats.
  • Follow Clean Elections on Facebook at @AZCleanElections, on Twitter at @AZCCEC and on Instagram azcleanelections.

BOSAGORA Unveils ‘VOTERA’, a Core System of Deliberative Democracy

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
Networks, Internet, Data management, Technology, Software, Articles, Types of democracy, Cryptocurrencies, Direct democracy, Group decision-making, Deliberative democracy, Participatory democracy, Blockchain, E-democracy, Democracy

BOSAGORA (Chairman: Kim In-hwan) announced on October 14, 2020, that it unveiled a video of visualizing VOTERA, a core system for processing democratic consensus by all members of the Parliamentary Network.

Key Points: 
  • BOSAGORA (Chairman: Kim In-hwan) announced on October 14, 2020, that it unveiled a video of visualizing VOTERA, a core system for processing democratic consensus by all members of the Parliamentary Network.
  • BOSAGORA aims to build a better world by providing blockchain technology and financial support to diversified projects through these decision-making processes.
  • Any member of the Parliamentary Network of BOSAGORA is allowed to vote as he or she is awarded a voting right per 1 node.
  • VOTERA is a visible outcome that advanced a step closer toward completing a platform of a core system that realizes deliberative democracy being pursued by the BOSAGORA platform, said Kim In-hwan, Chairman of BOSAGORA.