Mobile Technology and the Rule of Law

Abstract

The rule of law and its enforcement, one of the fundamental pillars of any democratic society, remains a problem for much of the developing world. When inefficient formal judicial mechanisms and corruption exist, most disputes are resolved through local informal justice mechanisms that are only effective within the society in which they operate. In an ever globalizing world, and with mobile phone subscriptions in the developing and underdeveloped world accounting for over three fourth of the total global subscriptions, the use of mobile technologies for promotion of fair and effective justice systems seems the logical next step. This chapter looks at the possibilities and advantages of the use of mobile phones in electronic commerce and dispute resolution, which may, in turn, help promote the rule of law.