E-participation can be further defined as a mechanism that augments and intensifies political participation, enabling citizens to connect with each other and their elected representatives through information and communication technologies (ICTs).
[4] The intricacies of e-participation processes arise from the diversity of participation domains, the variety of involved stakeholders, differing levels of engagement, and the various stages in policy making.
Originating in the early 2000s, the term "e-participation" emerged from the idea of promoting civic involvement in public policies via information and communication technologies (ICTs).
The development of CSCW (Computer Supported Cooperative Work) and groupware, designed to foster collaborative environments, has significantly enhanced human interaction mediated by ICTs in both professional and social settings.
Complex services necessitate extensive interaction, including searching, option selection based on various criteria, outcome calculations, notifications, inquiries, and complaints.
While numerous ICT tools exist for these tasks, ranging from FAQs to call centers, there remains a need for their coordination into user-friendly yet robust toolsets for client-organization encounters.
Instead of passively absorbing information disseminated by the media and government, engaging in participation transforms an individual into an active citizen, contributing to a democratic society.
Notably, "the rise of online communities focused on the creation of valuable products suggests the feasibility of designing socially mediating technologies to support collaborations between the public and government".
[12] The rapid sharing and response mechanisms enabled by social networking platforms have emerged as a crucial tool for e-participation, facilitating citizen involvement in decision-making and encouraging government agencies to address public concerns proactively.
Notably the Arab Spring (2010-2012), where social media allowed for the Middle Eastern and North African nations involved to get around government censorship and to form groups and spread information across the internet.
Generally defined as soliciting a group of individuals via the World Wide Web to solve problems,[22] this platform can gather human resources from the furthest and most unexpected places, contributing to the overall pool of intellectual capital.
Consequently, the digital divide impedes and restricts the ability of certain groups to express their views, excluding them from participation, and ultimately contradicting the intended purpose of e-participation.
Innovative digital technologies are also employed to provide citizens with easier access to information and greater opportunities to impact decisions that shape their lives.
A MOMENTUM white paper report by (Charalabidis, Koussouris & Kipenis 2009) presents important data and results from these projects, offering preliminary policy suggestions for future application.