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Working Paper No. 5: For a process of public participation adapted to the responsible development of new technologies

Working Paper No. 5: For a process of public participation adapted to the responsible development of new technologies

08/11/11

When their impact can be significant, the public should seize the earliest possible issues related to new technologies and set a framework for responsible development, which can lead both to their dissemination to the general public as their abandonment. A citizen can not be absent from this discussion. Should we use for this purpose, the procedure for public debate?

The difficulties encountered by the recent debate on nanotechnologies raise questions. Analysis by the President of the National Public Debate Commission shows that the specificity of the debate on nanotechnology is not so much the social issues it raises, and which are made of all proceedings, the development of current nanotechnologies and their novelty: their uses, their effects and risks are difficult to identify and involve numerous uncertainties, including the detection of nanoparticles and their measurement. Logically, the debate is met with a number of difficulties: the meaning of the term "nanotechnology", identifying the scope of the subject for debate, misunderstanding by the public of the subject under discussion was that "the regulation (or guidance) for their development," but also the unknown on the follow-up to the debate and is a critical success factor. Finally, the lack of decision following the debate increases the feeling of failure.
 

Public debates involve attitudes and collective representations irreducible to simple considerations the subject under discussion and its intrinsic interest. This is their difficulty, but also their wealth: the critique that is expressed in all shades and mobilizes their thus gives an irreplaceable character. Therefore, no referendum or poll, the public debate, which acts as an indicator of the views of society, should be the focus of a public involvement process suited to the definition of responsible development of new technologies.

Therefore four steps are possible:

  • Define for each emerging technology whose impact is potentially significant health or the environment, a process of public participation in the definition of its authorities;
  • Maintain the option of general public discussion of the 2002 Act as the central figure of participation. Start it as early as possible in the process of emergence, for the participatory preparation of a referral to the CNDP for the first debate, decision worth the time and purpose of this debate;
  • To ensure the usefulness of the debate, impose administrations concerned, as the debates of the project, to publish and justify the conclusions they take and submit them to a consultation from debate;
  • Develop research activities on the notion of responsible development of new technologies and administrative instruments of their supervision.
  • Author : Georges Mercadal

 

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