We are now several decades of research into the social, political, economic, and cultural implications of the Digital Age. Notwithstanding what the research has found, there remains a gleaming, utopian belief lodged in the public eye that e-society in its multiple, proliferating contexts will inexorably guide the march of human progress through the pearly gates of future Knowledge Societies. This keynote hones in on one specific aspect of this belief: that big data and information and communication technologies will inevitably shine a disinfecting light on e-governance, thus enhancing access to knowledge for the many, amplifying the political power of the multitudes, and ultimately achieving the true potential of democracy. A careful analysis of the underlying concepts – knowledge, power, and democracy – suggests at least a middle range forecast of disequilibrium and disruption and a need to re-think and re-build strong civil societies and robust social institutions if democracy's potential is to be achieved.