Lobbying in the 21st Century
Transparency, Integrity and Access
Lobbying, as a way to influence and inform governments, has been part of democracy for at least two centuries, and remains a legitimate tool for influencing public policies. However, it carries risks of undue influence. Lobbying in the 21st century has also become increasingly complex, including new tools for influencing government, such as social media, and a wide range of actors, such as NGOs, think tanks and foreign governments. This report takes stock of the progress that countries have made in implementing the OECD Principles for Transparency and Integrity in Lobbying. It reflects on new challenges and risks related to the many ways special interest groups attempt to influence public policies, and reviews tools adopted by governments to effectively safeguard impartiality and fairness in the public decision-making process.
Transparency
This chapter assesses the level of implementation in countries of the transparency principles of the Recommendation on Principles for Transparency and Integrity in Lobbying. The findings show that in a majority of countries, there is limited transparency on the targets of lobbying activities and on the actors conducting lobbying activities, and that the information disclosed is not enough to allow for public scrutiny. The chapter also shows that further light needs to be shed on all the different ways it is now possible to influence the policy-making process, and notes how compliance can be promoted through engagement with lobbyists and the use of digital tools. It also finds that audit and review of the rules and guidelines on lobbying is limited.
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