Promoting transparency and accountability through ICTs, social media, and collaborative e-government

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the ways in which governments build social media and information and communication technologies (ICTs) into e-government transparency initiatives, to promote collaboration with members of the public and the ways in members of the public are able to employ the same social media to monitor government activities. Design/methodology/approach - This study used an iterative strategy that involved conducting a literature review, content analysis, and web site analysis, offering multiple perspectives on government transparency efforts, the role of ICTs and social media in these efforts, and the ability of e-government initiatives to foster collaborative transparency through embedded ICTs and social media. Findings - The paper identifies key initiatives, potential impacts, and future challenges for collaborative e-government as a means of transparency. Originality/value - The paper is one of the first to examine the interrelationships between ICTs, social media, and collaborative e-government to facilitate transparency.