Citizen Email Response Shapes Public Policy

Something as simple as the click of a mouse has taken civic participation to a whole new level in this age of cyber-communication.

The FDIC recently reported it received an unprecedented number of emails—205,000—in response to federal bank regulators’ plans to monitor individual bank transactions through a “Know Your Customer” policy that would require banks to keep tabs on customer banking patterns in an effort to track inconsistencies and possible criminal activities. Due to the volume of emails opposing it, the proposal was withdrawn.

“When consumers can get excited about an esoteric bank regulation, we have to pay attention,” noted FDIC Chairman Donna Tanoue.

With email use predicted to increase dramatically in the coming years, federal and state governments alike will increasingly have to factor email into their constituent and public relations plans.