Spotlight on:

National Flag

The Free Lands of Vancouvia

“Prosperity, Freedom, Efficiency”

Category: Liberal Democratic Socialists
Civil Rights:
Very Good
Economy:
Frightening
Political Freedoms:
Superb

Regional Influence: Eminence Grise

Location: The Western Isles

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7

Vancouvian Online Interface of Citizen Entries (VOICE)



VOICE

VOICE - the Vancouvian Online Interface of Citizen Entries - is an all encompassing government website which serves a wide variety of functions.


History

VOICE was launched in 2000, shortly after Vancouvia was formed. Created on the cusp of the internet boom, the initial goal of the website was to facilitate the peaceful selection and election of Senators. VOICE ran into major problems from the start, with millions of citizens complaining about the slow speed of the website and a lack of internet access. Congress quickly set into action the "Internet Access and Installation Program," paying for and installing internet connections in hundreds of libraries and schools throughout the country, with a goal of providing "accessible, fast internet to every citizen." Although costly and controversial, the plan was a success and by January 2001, there was no spot in the nation that did not have an internet hub within 15 miles.

Although used solely for elections and removals of Senators for the first two years, Congress eventually noticed the widespread possible applications of the website. The first major application was for census data. This was highly controversial, with many citizens denouncing any attempt for the government to extract any information further than their name, Government Personal Identification Number (GPIN), and voting status. Regardless, an informational mandate was implemented, requiring every citizen to supply a variety of information, including address, country of origin, race, age, marital status, and income. Some argued that this would stabilize what they referred to as a "shaky" system, wherein others noted the increasingly Orwellian nature of the "Vancouvian Octopus Interface," the notion being that Congress had its many limbs in every facet of citizens' lives. The mandate did, however, allow virtually instantaneously censuses, enabling Congress and local governments to enact more suitable laws.

The next step of VOICE was information distribution; all government actions and the election process began being posted and disseminated through VOICE. This was widely hailed as a positive move for the system, enabling a more transparent government. However, critics argued that the wide majority of Vancouvians would rarely dive through the massive amount of data being posted, and that it was essentially information overload and a hollow gesture.

Over the next five years, VOICE expanded its fields of focus, with expansions to include email and chat messaging, a healthcare marketplace, a tax center, communication with Senators and local governments, online forums for members of communities and interest groups, and applications for licenses and the military. Essentially, VOICE had transformed into part government hub, part social media platform. Many have expressed concern over the dramatic changes that VOICE has undergone in the past decade, wondering when, and if, the Octopus will stop growing.

Use

Theoretically, VOICE has the exact number of entries as there are people in Vancouvia. In practice, however, this does not account for the late removal of the deceased, illegal immigrants, undocumented births, or fictitious persons. All babies born are required to be registered by their parents within the first week, while all immigrants are automatically entered into the system upon entrance.

Children under 18, who cannot vote, have that part of the site locked from access, but are encouraged to actively use other parts of VOICE in order to gain familiarity.

Citizens can choose the exact amount of information displayed to other citizens, however certain members of the government are granted various levels of access depending on their need. For example, local city government officials can review demographical data.

Controversy

VOICE has been highly criticized over security concerns. Many argue that VOICE is the most vulnerable target on the entire internet, with all of Vancouvians' lives and personal information stored on a single site. In response, Congress has poured millions of dollars into security upgrades and anti-hacking deterrents, but phishing is still a major problem.

The lack of privacy on VOICE is also a concern. Citizens are required by law to provide a wide swath of information with the knowledge that it can and will be seen by others. Congress argues that the majority of information is utilized on a composite rather than individual level, enabling anonymity.

VOICE has also been criticized for its accessibility. Despite Congress's efforts to enable easy access to the internet, critics argue that those in rural areas, the elderly, and the poor are particularly disadvantaged. They claim that equal access is impossible, and that even with technological innovations there will always be a minority that is left without relatively easy access to the services.

In 2014, Congress permitted government corporations such as the Vancouvian Postal System and Vancouvian National Rail, to advertise on the site, angering many users. Critics worry that governmental advertisements are the first step on a pathway towards corporate ads on the site, but Congress has said in multiple addresses that this will not occur.

The Free Lands of Vancouvia

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