Two main scenarios of the information society are discussed and compared in an extensive study. The authors review how other researchers and philosophers interpret the main features of information technology, their relation to the concept of democracy, and particularly to the actors of democracy, i.e. parties, politicians, and citizens.

Restructuring telecommunication industries according to the interests of the new age of information create unemployment and insecurity of jobs. Labour representation has become much more difficult than before. There are examples of "humanitarian" solutions, even if not very widespread.

Philantropic capital, its investment and its distribution have been unduly neglected by the critics of capitalism. The non-profit sector, however, does have a particular "profit", i.e. creating an intellectual and ideological environment favourable for capitalism. The size and scope of this sector in the United States is assessed in the article.

The leading Hungarian expert of the topic highlights the dangers of market and political exploitation of the information environment. Most of these dangers remain hidden from the ordinary public, which otherwise can be very sensitive to issues of personal autonomy A historic overview of the theme is followed by some practical considerations as well as comments on recent institutional change in Hungary.

According to the leading study of the author in his book "La Megamachine" from 1994, technological development has become "vicious" in as much it degraded the creator of the juggernaut to just a part of the system, and sacrificed a good deal of social values previously crucial in human relations. In order to find a way out we have to go beyond "technopessimism".