The role of digital media in advancing social causes in India

The Takshashila Institution in collaboration with US Consulate Chennai hosted a round table with Mr. Macon Phillips, Coordinator, Bureau of International Information Programs (IIP), US State Department on 27th April 2015.The discussion was about how digital media has been used to advance social causes in India. Sighting the mobilisation around the Net Neutrality debate, the attendees discussed if this was a sign of things to come.Mr. Phillips classified the engagement between governments and citizens into 3 categories: 1. Engagements to get new ideas 2. Engagements to address criticism and critiques and 3. Engagements that call for action. He discussed his experiences with "We the People"— an online petitioning system designed for the US Federal Government.