Transparency of Public Information on the Websites of Municipalities as a Tool for Civic Auditing During COVID-19 of 2020

ABSTRACT

Access to public information is the basis for effective citizen participation and the strengthening of democracy. This research was conducted using a quantitative approach at an exploratory level, using a mixed documentary and field study strategy with the aim of presenting the transparency levels of public information in the municipal websites of different capitals of Ecuador during COVID-19. During July 2021, a questionnaire of 13 questions was applied, which consisted on two open and 11 closed questions, the latter with dichotomous and Likert scales. The sample consisted of 343 individuals. Among the most relevant results, the interest of citizens (62.10%) in using the municipalities' webpages to obtain information stands out;however, they express the limited availability of information as well as its quality (clarity and reliability), especially during the health crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the needs of the population (95.30%) for having means and tools that allow the different social groups and actors to have access to public information, in order to exercise effective participation and civic auditing of public affairs. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.