ABSTRACT
Changes in technology are forcing scholars to rethink notions of governance and citizenship (Fountain, 2001; Larsen and Raine, 2002). This chapter focuses on how changes in software can be used as a form of governance. It begins with the recognition that information technology is not a dry inert material. Information technology affects fundamental societal concerns, such as privacy and free speech (Biegel, 2001; Braman, 2003; Lessig, 1999). In turn, technology can be proactively designed to address issues such as crime (Katyal, 2001), competition (Cooper, 2004), and democratic discourse (Wilhelm, 2000). This chapter continues this line of inquiry by focusing on how policymakers can utilize two aspects of software, defaults and standards, as a method of governance.
