Digital democracy, Brasil Participativo platform and critical theory of technology

Abstract

The article analyzes an empirical case of Brazilian public policy and esta- blishes some conceptual considerations drawing on critical theory of techno- logy and notions of digital democracy, through bibliographic and documen- tary research, including a literature review of authors relevant to the proposed fields of study. Its main objective is to examine the Brasil Participativo platform, focusing on the Participatory Multi-Year Plan (PPA), implemented in 2023 by the Brazilian federal government. To this end, it relies on theoretical frameworks of democracy, accountability, and transparency. Andrew Feenberg’s critical theory of technology underpins the entire conceptual analysis presented in the article. The findings indicate that there remains substantial room for expanding po- pular participation through internet-based technologies in Brazil, which is still very incipient in the country according to official data. This reveals the pressing need to adopt measures aimed at democratizing Brazilian technolo- gical policy, such as solidarity-based technoscience and technodiversity.