AI Landscape Digest

📚 Research Highlights

Recent Developments in Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Governance, and AI in Public Services

World Bank's Digital Public Infrastructure Framework

The World Bank published a significant report in March 2025 titled "Digital Public Infrastructure and Development: A World Bank Group Approach," which provides a strategic framework for developing Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a foundational element of digital transformation. This report emphasizes DPI as a set of shared digital systems—including digital identity, payments, and data-sharing—that governments and private sector players can leverage to create scalable, efficient, and inclusive digital services [1].

The document positions DPI as a key enabler of innovation, service delivery, and socio-economic development, particularly in low and middle-income countries. The World Bank defines DPI as "foundational, digital building blocks designed for public benefit" that are interoperable, modular, and reusable across both public and private sectors [1].

Key characteristics of effective DPI systems identified in the report include:

• Interoperability & Openness: DPI systems should utilize open standards to ensure seamless integration
• Public & Private Use: While built for public benefit, DPI should enable private-sector innovation
• Privacy & Security by Design: Data protection measures must be incorporated to safeguard users [1]

The report elaborates that "Digital public infrastructure (DPI) refers to systems that serve as foundational, digital building blocks for public benefit. Systems built as DPI can comprise a variety of digital software, platforms, APIs, and services, along with their related legal and regulatory frameworks, standards, policies, and processes" [2].

OECD's Government at a Glance 2025

The OECD has released its "Government at a Glance 2025" report, offering a comprehensive overview of public governance and administration practices in OECD Member and accession candidate countries. This edition features indicators on trust in public institutions, prosperity, and satisfaction with public services, along with evidence of good governance practices in areas including digital government, regulation, budgeting, and infrastructure planning [3].

In a related OECD paper, digital public infrastructure is defined as "shared digital systems that are secure and interoperable and that can support the inclusive delivery of and access to public and private services across society." The paper emphasizes that governments play a pivotal role in designing, developing, and managing DPI, as well as leveraging these systems to increase efficiency and coherence in digital government policies. Key components identified include digital identity, payments, data sharing, digital post, and core government data registries [4].

Building robust DPI requires addressing governance challenges such as funding, public-private collaboration, and robust safeguards for privacy and security. As DPI becomes a global priority, enhanced cross-border cooperation is vital to address issues like resilience and to ensure effective DPI across diverse economic contexts [4].

AI and Digital Public Infrastructure Integration

A recent paper published on arXiv titled "Interactions Between Artificial Intelligence and Digital Public Infrastructure: Concepts, Benefits, and Challenges" discusses how artificial intelligence and digital public infrastructure can mutually enhance the public value provided by each other. The authors describe both opportunities and challenges under which AI and DPI can interact for mutual benefit [5].

The paper provides empirical evidence for how AI, as a general-purpose technology, can integrate into many DPI systems, aiding their function in use cases like language localization via machine translation, personalized service delivery via recommender systems, and more. It also catalogs how DPI can act as a foundation for creating more advanced AI systems by improving both the quantity and quality of training data available [5].

Data Governance for Frontier AI Models

Another significant paper published on arXiv, "Towards Data Governance of Frontier AI Models," focuses on how data can enable new governance capacities for frontier AI models. While previous academic, legal, and regulatory work has primarily addressed how data can directly harm consumers and creators through privacy breaches, copyright infringements, and bias, this paper explores the "frontier data governance" approach that opens new avenues for monitoring and mitigating risks from advanced AI models, particularly as they scale and acquire specific dangerous capabilities [6].

The authors provide an overview of 15 governance mechanisms, centrally introducing five underexplored policy recommendations. These include: developing canary tokens to detect unauthorized use; automated data filtering to remove malicious content for training datasets; mandatory dataset reporting requirements; improved security for datasets and data generation algorithms; and know-your-customer requirements for vendors. By considering data not just as a source of potential harm but as a critical governance lever, this work aims to equip policymakers with new tools for the governance and regulation of frontier AI models [6].

The Artificial Intelligence Index Report 2025

The eighth edition of the Artificial Intelligence Index report for 2025 has been released, arriving at a critical moment as AI's influence across society, economy, and global governance continues to intensify. New in this year's report are in-depth analyses of the evolving landscape of AI hardware, novel estimates of inference costs, and new analyses of AI publication and patenting trends. The report also introduces fresh data on corporate adoption of responsible AI practices, along with expanded coverage of AI's growing role in science and medicine [7].

Since its founding in 2017, the AI Index has committed to equipping policymakers, journalists, executives, researchers, and the public with accurate, rigorously validated, and globally sourced data. Its mission has been to help stakeholders make better-informed decisions about AI development and deployment [7].

GovTech and Public Sector Innovation

The World Bank's Institutions Global Department and the Innovation for Development Impact Department are set to host the second iteration of the GovTech and Public Sector Innovation Global Forum on May 27-28, 2025. This forum will convene global experts from government, academia, industry, and civil society to explore how technology can transform public sector institutions and foster collaborations that accelerate the implementation of innovative public sector solutions [8].

The Global Forum is co-hosted by the governments of Austria, Estonia, Korea, and Switzerland, in collaboration with OECD, UNDP, Mastercard, Microsoft, and Visa, with academic insights provided by MIT GOV/LAB and Harvard CID. Participants will have numerous opportunities to engage in interactive sessions to share ideas, best practices, and co-create solutions to pressing governance challenges [8].

At the forum, the World Bank's GovTech Team will present a beta version of an ambitious new initiative: a global repository of real-world AI deployments in public administration. This platform will highlight how governments around the world, at all income levels, are deploying AI to solve pressing public sector challenges [8].

Regional Approaches to Digital Public Infrastructure

Mobile banking initiatives in several countries, including Ghana's mobile money interoperability system, have demonstrated how digital platforms can enhance women's economic agency by increasing purchasing power and productivity while improving household financial management. The integration of DPI into national development frameworks marks a significant shift in how countries approach digital transformation, with more governments embedding digital systems within broader development strategies rather than treating them as standalone technical projects [9].

As highlighted during high-level discussions at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in early 2025, regional bodies like ASEAN, GCC, and APEC are becoming increasingly important venues for establishing digital frameworks [9].

Regional initiatives include the ASEAN Data Management Framework, the Nordic-Baltic eID (NOBID) project, and the World Bank's West Africa Unique Identification for Regional Integration and Inclusion (WURI). Shared features among these initiatives include regional data-sharing agreements that uphold privacy while fostering innovation, technical standards supporting interoperability and national autonomy, cross-border digital identity systems, industry-led frameworks for payments and authentication across jurisdictions, and multilateral cybersecurity cooperation. The G20's growing focus on DPI presents an opportunity to align efforts across borders [9].

Challenges and Governance Considerations

Despite its potential, DPI implementation is not without challenges. The World Bank identifies several key risks that need to be addressed, including digital divides. Many populations still lack access to digital services due to low internet penetration, affordability barriers, and limited digital literacy. DPI systems must ensure inclusivity by offering non-digital alternatives for those unable to use online services [1].

The misuse or mismanagement of personal data is a major concern. DPI must be designed with privacy-enhancing technologies and strong data governance frameworks. Governments must establish clear regulations on data access and consent management [1].

The growing centrality of DPI introduces complex tensions between national sovereignty and global connectivity, market dynamism and public oversight, and accessibility and security. These challenges are particularly acute as countries simultaneously navigate broader digital economy trends, including AI emergence, evolving cybersecurity threats, privacy, and data sovereignty concerns [9].

🌐 News & Trends

Recent National Digital Transformation Strategies and E-Governance Initiatives

National Digital Transformation Strategies

New and Updated National Strategies

Ireland has committed to updating its National Digital Strategy in 2025. The Irish government announced this initiative to maintain Ireland's position as a digital leader globally. Given the rapid development of AI and other emerging technologies, the government aims to accelerate the digitalization of enterprise, public services, and the broader economy. Ireland will continue building on its reputation as a technology hub to become a vibrant location for AI innovation [1].

Ireland's Minister of State with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth, emphasized that the updated strategy will reflect Ireland's determination to remain at the forefront of Digital and AI adoption. She highlighted that this whole-of-government approach will reinforce the priority to drive and accelerate AI adoption in enterprises and public services. The government's goal is to build an increasingly digitally inclusive society where everyone can benefit and have opportunities to succeed [2].

The UAE has launched its Digital Government Strategy 2025, with the main objective of creating broad cross-sectoral government commitment for embedding digital aspects into overall government strategies. The strategy is built on eight dimensions: leaving no one behind (inclusive by default), resilience, fitness for the digital age, user-driven approach, digital by design, data-driven processes, open by default, and proactiveness [3].

The UAE's strategy aims to achieve a "very high level of maturity" (100%) for all UAE government entities at both federal and local levels by 2025 [4].

Governance of Digital Transformation

Experts emphasize that navigating digital transformation at the national level requires comprehensive approaches to achieve policy coordination and coherence. A well-defined national digital transformation strategy (DTS) serves as a valuable guide, providing a framework for prioritizing national objectives and guiding resource allocation toward desired outcomes. It can also help governments navigate emergent situations and times of uncertainty [5].

Successful development and implementation of national digital strategies requires effective governance. With over 50 nations undergoing high-stakes elections in 2024, there's a growing need for resilience and continuity of national digital transformation strategies amid changing leadership, especially in multi-party nations. As governments change, new administrations may disregard or significantly alter existing strategies or plans, stalling progress and compromising budget and resources. To sustain progress, it's critical that digital transformation strategies and their strategic objectives remain stable throughout changing political cycles [6].

E-Governance and Digital ID Systems

Recent Digital ID Implementations

In the United States, WidePoint Corporation has secured a six-year contract with the Department of Education to provide Personal Identity Verification-Interoperable (PIV-I) credentialing services. The contract period extends from August 1, 2025, through July 31, 2031, building upon recent federal initiatives to strengthen digital identity security across government agencies. The agreement requires WidePoint to implement PIV-I credentials that will enable secure logical network access authentication for the Department's systems. These credentials will feature digital signing capabilities, email encryption, and Smart-Card physical access functionalities, following the NIST's updated Digital Identity Guidelines for federal agencies [7].

In the Philippines, the government has officially launched the new digital National Senior Citizen ID (NCSID). It will be integrated into the eGovPH app and is expected to benefit approximately 12 million elderly citizens. For senior citizens already registered with the national ID system (PhilSys), the digital version of the senior citizen ID will appear automatically upon reaching age 60, eliminating redundant paperwork and the need to physically visit multiple offices [8].

China launched a government-controlled digital identity system called the National Online Identity Authentication Public Service on July 15, 2025. Citizens can voluntarily register to receive a unique online identity token, referred to as a network number [9].

South Korea launched a digital version of its resident registration card in 2025, available to all citizens and registered residents. Users can obtain this ID by completing NFC verification of their electronic physical card (applicable for IDs issued after January 1, 2025) via a mobile phone or by registering at a local community center. Biometric verification is also required to prevent identity theft. Each South Korean digital ID is tied to a specific smartphone, meaning users can deactivate it through their telecom provider if the device is lost [10].

Chile is implementing a new electronic identity card with an integrated chip to store biometric information and security data. This will allow Chileans to access online services more securely and conveniently, both from government and private sector providers. The implementation will take place in two stages: an initial pilot phase in December 2024 and a general rollout starting in 2025. While the paper identity card will remain valid, authorities recommend transitioning to the electronic version due to its greater security and functionality benefits [11].

Digital Wallets and European Initiatives

Ireland already has a non-mandatory digital ID system called 'MyGovID' for accessing public services (an online log-in system). An Irish government digital wallet pilot has taken place this year involving public servants, with participation confirmed using a work email address and requiring a verified MyGovID and smartphone. It is possible the digital wallet could be launched on a limited basis before the end of 2025 [12].

In Italy, the PagoPA app has added a 'Documenti su IO' functionality, which allows citizens to store digital versions of driving licenses, health insurance cards, and disability cards (launched in December 2024). Pietro Stroia, head of technology at Italy's PagoPA, has focused on keeping abreast of industry trends to ensure technology optimization in the development and refinement of PagoPA's digital ID efforts [13].

Governments around the world are exploring digital identity initiatives to improve access to public services and cut fraud. The 27 European Union member states will be required to offer at least one EU Digital Identity Wallet (known as 'EUDI Wallet') to citizens, residents, and businesses by the end of 2026 [14].

In the UK, the government has announced a 2025 rollout of a digital identity wallet, incorporating a digital driver's license. However, the announcement was light on specifics, and the UK's progress in digital identity remains comparatively sluggish compared to other countries [15].

Digital ID Advancements in Asia and Oceania

Australia's Digital ID Act 2024, which commenced on December 1, 2024, establishes a comprehensive national digital identity verification system that coincides with stringent new eSafety laws requiring age verification for social media platforms [16].

Brunei's Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications has launched a strategic plan to transform the country's transport and telecommunications sectors by 2025. The plan includes the creation of a national digital identity and a Single Sign-On (SSO) platform for public services. The digital identity system and a payment gateway are expected to be completed by the end of this year. Additionally, the e-Darussalam portal will be developed to facilitate access to government services and will be integrated with the business sector. The digital transformation will also involve the use of blockchain for verifying digital assets. The goal is to make Brunei a smarter and more sustainable nation [17].

Government Service Transformation

The United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is developing a new direct tax-filing system called "Direct File." A report commissioned by the IRS found extremely high levels of public interest in this service, with 70% of the public expressing a desire for a free option created directly by the IRS. While this represents a high cost, it means more people will have an easier time submitting their taxes each year and will drive more revenue for the IRS. It also will require the government to spend less time tracking down those who have yet to pay their taxes [18].

Government agencies are under growing pressure to deliver secure, transparent, and efficient services to the public and stakeholders. Cloud platforms, AI, and modern data architecture are no longer separate initiatives but interdependent enablers of government productivity. While adoption of cloud and digital services across government has increased significantly, many projects fail to deliver lasting value because integration, governance, and data quality remain inconsistent [19].

Major Cybersecurity Incidents Affecting Public Sector Entities

Recent Government and Public Sector Breaches

A major breach of a justice department's cybersecurity system has sparked reviews of cybersecurity measures, as authorities urge anyone who suspects their data was exposed to report it. The incident underscores the need for robust protection of legal records and has prompted a government to enhance security controls for its online services [20].

In Spain, there was a startling law enforcement data leak affecting approximately 130,000 National Police officers. An investigation revealed that a well-known young hacker, alias "Alcasec," infiltrated a police database in 2022 and stole extensive personal information on officers. He allegedly sold these records – including names, private addresses, phone numbers, vehicle plate numbers, and national ID numbers – to at least two major drug trafficking gangs ("Los Miami" and "Niño Skin"). Investigators even obtained recorded phone conversations between the hacker and gang members as evidence of the transaction [21].

Germany's Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit, BA) disclosed a cyberattack targeting user accounts on its unemployment benefits portal. Cyber-criminals gained access to hundreds of citizen accounts (by exploiting weak security on users' own devices) and attempted to alter bank details in profiles to reroute benefit payments to their own accounts. The scheme was detected before any funds were stolen – the agency froze the affected accounts and took the e-service offline as a precaution. BA has filed criminal charges and notified the national cybersecurity agency (BSI) and data protection authorities. In response, the BA is urging users to adopt multi-factor authentication (MFA) and offering more secure login options (such as the government BundID system and one-time passcodes) [22].

Aviation and Critical Infrastructure Incidents

A major cybersecurity incident struck Europe's aviation sector on September 19, 2025, disrupting operations at several major airports, including Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin. The outage stemmed from a ransomware attack on Collins Aerospace's passenger processing system, known as MUSE and vMUSE. Since this system is widely used across multiple airlines and airports, the attack spread quickly across borders and caused large-scale operational failures [23].

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released an advisory in response to ransomware actors leveraging unpatched instances of a vulnerability in SimpleHelp Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) to compromise customers of a utility billing software provider. This incident reflects a broader pattern of ransomware actors targeting organizations through unpatched versions of SimpleHelp RMM since January 2025 [24].

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warned that Trimble Cityworks, an asset management tool widely used by local governments and infrastructure organizations, was being actively exploited. The vulnerability (CVE-2025-0994) is rated 8.6 in severity and received a patch in late January, which Federal civilian agencies must apply by the end of the month [25].

Nation-State Cyber Activities

In May 2025, the U.K.'s National Cyber Security Center named China as the dominant threat to national cybersecurity after a series of hacks and breaches involving British government departments and critical infrastructure, including alleged attacks against the Electoral Commission and Members of Parliament. That same month, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, and other allies issued an advisory warning of a Russian cyber campaign targeting the delivery of defense support to Ukraine and other NATO defense and tech sectors [26].

Hackers spied on the emails of roughly 103 U.S. bank regulators at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for over a year, ending in early 2025. Additionally, Russian cyberattacks on Ukraine surged by nearly 70% in 2024, with 4,315 incidents targeting critical infrastructure, including government services, the energy sector, and defense-related entities. Ukraine's cybersecurity agency reported that attackers aimed to steal sensitive data and disrupt operations, with tactics such as malware distribution, phishing, and account compromises [27].

Chinese cyber espionage operations surged by 150% overall in 2024, with attacks against financial, media, manufacturing, and industrial sectors rising up to 300%, according to recent reports. Chinese hackers conducted ongoing cyber espionage campaigns targeting government, manufacturing, telecom, and media sectors in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The attackers deployed backdoors and embedded themselves in cloud services like Dropbox for command and control to evade detection [28].

Recurring Patterns and Sectors Under Attack

Recent cybersecurity incidents have shown several significant patterns. Telecommunications companies have been under pressure with Bouygues Telecom and Orange Belgium reporting large breaches affecting millions of customers. Healthcare remains a prime target, with DaVita (2.7 million patients) and Healthcare Services Group (624,000 individuals) suffering breaches, underscoring the persistent risk to health data. Education and research institutions have also been exposed, with Columbia University disclosing nearly 870,000 compromised records. Government services have been disrupted as well, with the US Federal Judiciary, Canada's House of Commons, and Maryland's MTA all reporting serious cyber attacks impacting sensitive systems [29].

Recent trends show supply-chain attacks have intensified, with the Salesforce OAuth compromise expanding its impact across cybersecurity vendors, Cloud providers, and major enterprises. Operational ransomware has returned, with manufacturing and aviation sectors seeing renewed disruption attacks. Public-sector targeting has increased, with government offices in the USA, Panama, and the UK facing ransomware or data-theft incidents. Child data and education breaches have grown, highlighted by the Kido International attack showing increased risks to childcare and education providers. There's also been a resurgence in insider risk, as demonstrated by the FinWise insider case showing that internal access remains a persistent data protection challenge [30].

⚙️ Tools & Resources

Recent Open-Source GovTech Platforms and Digital Public Infrastructure Initiatives

New GovTech Platforms

1. GovStack Open-Source Community - This global initiative is leading the world in establishing a toolkit for digitalization of public sector infrastructure. GovStack's approach focuses on working with governments to identify real-life scenarios for digital services that benefit citizens [2].

2. GovStack Building Blocks - This initiative supports governments in developing digital solutions for public services based on a modular principle. A notable example is the platform for digital registration certificates being developed in Brazil through GovStack's 'Women in GovTech' program, potentially saving 216 million Brazilians unnecessary visits to public authorities. Launched by Estonia, Germany, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Digital Impact Alliance (DIAL) in 2020, GovStack addresses the challenges of government service digitalization with its 'building block' approach [3].

3. GovTech4All 2.0 - The second phase of the European GovTech incubator was launched in June 2025, following the successful completion of three collaborative pilots from the first phase (2023-2025). This collaborative initiative aims to accelerate digital transformation in the public sector while strengthening the European GovTech ecosystem. The new edition will deliver eight innovative digital government pilots focused on reusing and scaling up existing digital solutions, launching startup-driven challenges, and exploring new models of public procurement [4].

The first phase of GovTech4All successfully brought together government agencies, private sector organizations, and civil society actors to adapt solutions from other countries and procure solutions from startups. Notable examples include a quantum-resistant security framework using OpenFHE and OQS, and Personal Regulation Assistants for social benefits using OpenFisca [4].

4. GovTech Innovation Challenge - The World Bank, in partnership with SECO and Trust Valley, has introduced this initiative to boost technology in government services. It connects the Ghana Revenue Authority with innovative companies to solve tax administration challenges. Selected firms join a Swiss boot camp to refine their solutions and enhance public-private collaboration. The program aims to transform public services and share successful solutions with other World Bank members [5].

Digital Public Infrastructure Initiatives

5. FIWARE Open Source Platform - This leading open-source platform and global community of over 700 members with thousands of deployments is committed to driving data-driven innovation, interoperability, and ethical digital ecosystems. FIWARE showcases how open-source-based digital infrastructures can address global challenges across sectors—including smart cities, agriculture, energy—and offers advantages for the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) model [6].

6. Linux Foundation Digital Public Infrastructure Projects - Building effective digital public infrastructure requires sophisticated understanding of open source ecosystems, careful governance models, and innovative approaches to public-private collaboration. The Linux Foundation Europe continues to steward critical open source projects and facilitate collaboration between diverse stakeholders. Their work is increasingly vital to creating transparent, cost-efficient, interoperable, and innovative services [1].

Published Data Standards for Public Administration

1. UN DESA/IASIA 2025 Standards of Excellence for Public Administration Education and Training - After a two-year review process (2022-2024), the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration (IASIA) Global Task Force has finalized a new set of Standards of Excellence. Over 1,200 expert contributions were received from academics, schools of public administration and training institutes, practitioners, stakeholders, and UN representatives. The review process included seventeen global and regional workshops and meetings, plus an online survey in five languages. Applying these standards will result in more dynamic, tech-savvy, agile, and globally aware public servants [7].

2. General Accessibility Framework for Administrators - In France, the Digital Republic Act requires that public sector websites be fully accessible by 2025. The General Accessibility Framework for Administrators (Référentiel général d'amélioration de l'accessibilité), based on WCAG 2.0 and 2.1 AA standards, is being implemented as the official guide for improving web accessibility [8].

3. DCAT Application Profile Updates - The DCAT Application Profile has been developed as a common project from the ISA2 programme, the Publications Office and CNECT to describe public-sector data catalogues and datasets and promote standardization across European data portals. This specification is used by the European Data Portal and a growing number of Member States' open data portals. It has been extended to cover geospatial data (GeoDCAT-AP) and statistical data (StatDCAT-AP) [9].

Digital Literacy Toolkits

1. Gateways to Public Digital Learning - As of February 2025, the official Gateways member countries include Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Egypt, Finland, Indonesia, Jordan, Latvia, Liberia, Lebanon, Malawi, Malta, Mongolia, Singapore, the United States, and Uruguay. The Gateways Community of Practice now comprises over 30 countries. This initiative builds on UNICEF's 2022 'Pulse Check on Digital Learning' report, which examined 471 national platforms across 184 countries, focusing on five aspects: policies and financing, platforms and content, teachers and school leadership, digital literacy, and holistic learning opportunities [10].

2. European Digital Decade Framework - The European Commission has collected national roadmaps from Member States detailing plans to meet the 2030 Digital Decade targets. These targets involve measurable goals in connectivity, digital skills, digital business, and digital public spaces. As of December 2024, the Commission had signed 21 grant agreements for backbone networks including submarine cables. These high capacity, secure, and resilient components boost connections between Europe and Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and across European regions. This initiative acknowledges that while access is the first step in reducing the digital divide, having the skills, knowledge, and attitude to use technology is equally important [11].

3. Digital Government Model Framework - Introduced in 2024 by the United Nations E-Government Survey, this framework is based on two decades of data collected from 193 Member States through the E-Government Development Index (EGDI). The EGDI, comprising three subindexes—online services, telecommunications infrastructure, and human capital—"is widely recognized as an authoritative and comprehensive global metric for assessing the digital development of countries." According to the most recent EGDI, Europe leads in e-government development, followed by Asia, the Americas, Oceania, and Africa. Denmark currently ranks first for the fourth consecutive year for its e-government development [11].

Major Public Sector Data Releases

1. Public Sector Tech Watch Use Case Collection - This open dataset includes a list of use cases concerning the implementation of Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and other emerging technologies within the public sector. The collection includes complete metadata and taxonomy information about the cases. The dataset is available in CSV format with a CC-BY 4.0 license and with DCAT-AP metadata from the EU Joint Research Centre Open Data Catalogue. This resource was last updated on August 21, 2025 [12].

2. United Nations Data Access System (UNdata) - The United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) launched this internet-based data service for the global user community. It brings UN statistical databases within easy reach of users through a single entry point, allowing them to search and download a variety of statistical resources from across the UN system [13].

3. UN E-Government Survey Data Release - The United Nations E-Government Survey presents a systematic assessment of the use and potential of information and communication technologies to transform the public sector by enhancing efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, accountability, access to public services, and citizen participation in the 193 Member States of the United Nations [13].

4. UN Comtrade Database Expansion - This database aggregates detailed global annual and monthly trade statistics by product and trading partner for use by governments, academia, research institutes, and enterprises. Data compiled by the United Nations Statistics Division covers approximately 200 countries and represents more than 99% of the world's merchandise trade. Information can be extracted in various formats, including API developer tools for integration into enterprise applications and workflows [13].

5. OGP Local Commitment Database - The Open Government Partnership has released data on all local OGP commitments since 2021, derived from OGP local action plans. This database, which includes information on whether there is an active multi-stakeholder forum or local monitoring body, forms the basis of several findings in the 2025 IRM Local Report [14].

6. South Korea's Fourth Master Plan for Public Data - The Fourth Master Plan for Promoting the Provision and Use of Public Data 2023-2025 is being implemented following the First Master Plan for Data-based Administration 2021-2023 [15].

💡 Perspectives & Ethics

Recent Developments in Digital Inclusion, Algorithmic Decision-Making, and Data Rights

Digital Inclusion Initiatives and Challenges

Digital Inclusion Week 2025 and Recent Policy Developments

Digital Inclusion Week 2025 (October 6-10) has emerged as a significant event highlighting community-driven approaches to bridging the digital divide [1]. With the theme "Community-Driven Digital Futures," the initiative recognizes that the most effective solutions for digital inclusion come directly from within communities who understand their unique needs [2].

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) and other organizations across the United States are hosting events focused on strengthening digital literacy, access, and skills [3]. These initiatives reflect a growing recognition that digital inclusion requires localized, targeted approaches rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.

Recent policy challenges have emerged around funding for digital inclusion. On October 8, 2025, NDIA filed a lawsuit challenging the repeal of the Digital Equity Act's Competitive Grant Program, which had allocated $2.75 billion for digital inclusion efforts under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law [4]. This legal action highlights the ongoing tension between government priorities and ensuring communities have access to resources needed for meaningful digital participation.

Government Digital Inclusion Action Plans

In the United Kingdom, the Digital Inclusion Action Plan was recently launched with five immediate actions for 2025, focusing on addressing the needs of specific demographic groups including low-income households, older individuals, disabled people, those seeking employment, and young people [5]. The plan includes public-private partnerships, such as collaboration between the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), Good Things Foundation, Vodafone, and Deloitte to develop a charter for responsible device donation [6].

The UK government's approach acknowledges that digital exclusion is closely linked to broader social inequalities, with Technology Secretary Peter Kyle emphasizing that technology should be a "widely accessible force for good" and a "positive catalyst for social change" [7]. Google, Three, Sky, BT, and Openreach have committed to digital skills training initiatives as part of this plan [8].

Algorithmic Decision-Making in Government

Regional Policy Developments in AI Governance

The European Union has made significant strides in implementing the EU AI Act. In September 2025, the European Commission opened a public consultation on draft guidance and reporting templates for serious AI incidents [9]. The Commission also launched a consultation on transparency guidelines for AI systems under Article 50, clarifying obligations for systems that interact with users, generate content, or make automated decisions [10].

On October 8, 2025, the European Commission published the "Apply AI Strategy" aimed at accelerating AI development, adoption, and use across strategic sectors including healthcare, manufacturing, and defense [11]. This strategy promotes European AI solutions and encourages organizations to adopt an "AI first" policy while maintaining safeguards for fundamental rights and democratic values [12].

In the United Kingdom, the Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology recently released a policy paper following its review of the third-party AI assurance market, noting gaps in current offerings and suggesting government support to strengthen assurance capabilities [13]. The House of Commons Treasury Committee has launched an inquiry into AI use in financial services, examining risks related to algorithmic decision-making, model transparency, and consumer protection [14].

Debates on Algorithmic Accountability in Government

A significant debate has emerged in the UK Parliament around the Public Authority Algorithmic and Automated Decision-Making Systems Bill, which aims to improve transparency, fairness, and accountability in public sector algorithm use [15]. The bill addresses concerns about the opacity of algorithmic systems that affect citizens' lives without adequate oversight or transparency.

Lord Clement-Jones, a prominent advocate for algorithmic transparency, has cited several incidents highlighting "the dangers of unchecked algorithm systems," including the 2020 A-level grading controversy where students unfairly missed university placements, and cases where citizens were denied housing benefits based on erroneous algorithmic fraud risk scores [16]. These examples demonstrate how algorithmic decisions can have severe consequences for individuals when implemented without proper safeguards.

The UK government has mandated an Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS) for government departments, but critics argue implementation has been slow, with only 24 records added as of early 2025 [17]. This highlights the gap between policy rhetoric and actual implementation of algorithmic transparency measures.

Citizen Data Rights and Ethics of Algorithmic Decision-Making

Emerging Frameworks for Data Ethics

Recent academic research published in February 2025 emphasizes that addressing algorithmic bias requires comprehensive frameworks focusing on fairness, transparency, and compliance [18]. The research identifies critical areas where bias can emerge in AI-powered business analytics applications and recommends strategies such as fairness-aware machine learning, diverse dataset curation, and bias detection frameworks [19].

In September 2025, the European Data Protection Supervisor published guidance on human oversight of automated decision-making, emphasizing that merely adding human involvement doesn't inherently ensure better outcomes or accountability [20]. The guidance warns against treating human oversight as a safety net to justify deploying defective algorithms and argues that systems must be accurate, reliable, and ethically sound from the outset [21].

International Approaches to Algorithmic Decision-Making and Data Rights

A study published in July 2025 explores how AI applications in governance affect citizens' fundamental rights, examining cases in judicial assistance, technology-enabled law enforcement, and welfare supervision [22]. The research explains how AI characteristics such as algorithmic opacity, data bias, and automated decision-making affect rights including due process, equal protection, and privacy [23].

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has emphasized a human-centered approach to AI in its ethical frameworks, respecting human rights and freedoms while promoting inclusivity and diversity [24]. UNESCO particularly emphasizes avoiding discrimination or bias throughout the entire lifecycle of AI systems and providing effective remedies for discriminatory algorithmic decisions [25].

In the Asian region, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) adopted the Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) Roadmap in March 2025, establishing a regional framework for AI governance and cooperation [26]. This roadmap provides steps to align national AI initiatives with regional digitalization goals, prioritizing public-sector AI capacity building, digital infrastructure, and secure data sharing [27].

The Impact of Algorithmic Governance on Citizens

A recent analysis has identified how "political machines" — AI systems used to support or automate government decision-making — are transforming governance while often operating outside public scrutiny [28]. This shift represents a fundamental change in the citizen-state relationship, with technical experts and private contractors gaining significant influence over public policy implementation through the creation and maintenance of these systems [29].

The analysis highlights controversies like Australia's Robodebt scheme, which used algorithmic calculations to identify alleged welfare overpayments, leading to thousands of incorrect debt notices being issued to vulnerable citizens before legal challenges revealed its flaws [30]. Such examples demonstrate the real-world consequences of inadequate algorithmic governance.

Experts argue that transparency and explainability must become non-negotiable requirements for algorithmic systems in government. Citizens should know when automated systems are making decisions about them and understand how these systems operate [31]. This principle has gained traction in regulatory frameworks like the EU's AI Act, which imposes stricter requirements on high-risk AI systems, including those used by government agencies [32].

Regional Variations in Digital Rights Approaches

European Union

The EU continues to lead globally in comprehensive AI and data protection regulation. Implementation of the EU AI Act is progressing with detailed guidance being developed for various aspects [33]. The European Commission has also launched the AI Continent Action Plan to transform Europe into a leading AI continent, focusing on computing infrastructure, data, skills, algorithm development, and regulatory simplification [34].

The EU is investing significantly in AI development, with the InvestAI Initiative aiming to mobilize 200 billion euros and the Digital Europe Programme allocating 1.3 billion euros for AI in healthcare, cloud infrastructure, data spaces, and cyber resilience [35].

United Kingdom

The UK is pursuing a post-Brexit approach that balances innovation with appropriate safeguards. The Data (Use and Access) Bill has received Royal Assent, updating data protection provisions while reforming automated decision-making (ADM) rules [36]. Critics argue these reforms may weaken protections against biased algorithmic decision-making [37].

The UK government emphasizes a blueprint for "modern digital government" that promises transparency and accountability while streamlining digital services [38]. However, debates continue about whether current safeguards are sufficient to protect citizens from algorithmic harms.

United States

The US continues to lack a comprehensive federal AI framework, leading to a patchwork of state-level legislation. In 2024, US lawmakers introduced more than 700 AI-related bills, with 2025 seeing an even faster start [39]. This fragmented approach creates compliance challenges for companies operating across multiple states.

Some federal initiatives around AI governance have been suspended in 2025, illustrating the instability of legislative approaches in the US context [40]. This contrasts with the more coordinated regulatory frameworks being developed in the EU.

Asia-Pacific Region

China has implemented regulations requiring platforms to provide users with transparency regarding recommendation algorithms [41]. The country's approach favors centralized state control over AI development and deployment, with strict rules on transparency and security [42]. AI service providers must label AI-generated content and allow users to opt out of algorithmic recommendations [43].

South Korea signed an AI Basic Bill in early 2025, establishing user rights protections and governance frameworks for AI development and deployment [44]. The bill includes design requirements for AI systems and creates an AI authority to oversee implementation and issue further rules [45].

India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has been developing AI governance guidelines aiming to establish a framework that promotes innovation while ensuring responsible AI deployment [46]. The country has also signed a strategic technology partnership with the United States to increase cooperation on AI and quantum computing [47].

Conclusion

The landscape of digital inclusion, algorithmic decision-making in government, and citizen data rights continues to evolve rapidly across regions. While there's growing consensus about the need for ethical frameworks, transparency, and accountability in algorithmic systems, approaches vary significantly between regions, reflecting different priorities, governance models, and social values.

The tension between innovation and protection remains central to policy debates, with stakeholders grappling with how to harness AI's benefits while mitigating risks to fundamental rights and democratic values. Recent developments suggest a trend toward more comprehensive governance frameworks that address both technical and ethical dimensions of digital technologies, although implementation challenges persist.

As automated decision-making becomes increasingly integrated into public services, the need for citizen engagement, diverse stakeholder input, and robust safeguards becomes ever more critical to ensure these technologies serve the public good while respecting individual rights and democratic principles.