University of Kwazulu-Natal

Digitized Democracy How Ai Is Reshaping Governance And Civic Life Jsto

Bonisiwe Shabane
-
digitized democracy how ai is reshaping governance and civic life jsto

This policy brief argues that democratic governance must evolve as artificial intelligence becomes embedded in public life, often without transparency or public consent, and as the erosion of democratic processes directly threatens sustainable peace. Drawing on lessons from the 2025 UNDP Human Development Report and the 2024 UN Pact for the Future, this brief offers a framework for democratic digital governance that supports peacebuilding. It proposes five actions: establishing independent oversight bodies with enforcement powers; embedding civic participation in policymaking; expanding critical digital literacy; enforcing the Global Digital Compact; and protecting online civic space. With such measures, AI can enhance human agency, strengthen democratic institutions, and foster sustainable peace. As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in public life, it is reshaping not only how decisions are made but also who has power over them. From welfare systems to policing, from search engines to border control, algorithmic technologies now play a central role in governing societies—often without transparency or public consent.

This policy brief argues that democratic governance must evolve to meet this moment, as the erosion of democratic processes directly threatens sustainable peace. Drawing on lessons from the 2025 UNDP Human Development Report[1] and the 2024 UN Pact for the Future[2], this brief offers a framework for democratic digital governance that supports peacebuilding. It proposes five actions: establishing independent oversight bodies with enforcement powers; embedding civic participation in policymaking; expanding critical digital literacy; enforcing the Global Digital Compact[3]; and protecting online civic space. Without such measures, AI may deepen inequality, exacerbate violent conflict, and erode democracy. With them, it can enhance human agency, strengthen democratic institutions, and foster sustainable peace. Artificial intelligence is no longer an emerging trend—it is now a structural force in governance.

Decisions about school admissions, law enforcement, welfare eligibility, and even medical triage are increasingly shaped by algorithmic systems. These systems are often implemented without public debate and operate in ways that defy scrutiny, even by those tasked with managing them. The relationship between democratic governance and sustainable peace is fundamental. When algorithmic systems undermine democratic processes, they simultaneously threaten the foundations of peace. Democratic institutions—with their emphasis on participation, accountability, and human rights—create the conditions for resolving conflicts through dialogue rather than violence. As AI systems increasingly mediate social and political life, their governance becomes inseparable from both democratic resilience and peacebuilding efforts.

As the UNDP 2025 Human Development Report[1] "A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI" makes clear, the benefits of AI are not automatic—they depend on the deliberate expansion of... Without inclusive governance frameworks, AI in fragile contexts can accelerate marginalisation and compound existing power asymmetries. Peacebuilding actors must treat digital governance as a frontline issue of legitimacy and rights, not just technical functionality. The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) is challenging governance paradigms, raising concerns about public trust, disinformation, and democratic resilience. While these technologies offer unprecedented efficiency and innovation, they also risk amplifying bias, eroding transparency, and centralizing power within proprietary platforms. This paper reframes algorithmic sovereignty as the democratic capacity to regulate and audit AI systems, ensuring they align with ethical, civic, and institutional norms.

Using a mixed-methods approach—content analysis, expert interviews, and comparative policy review—we explore how regulatory frameworks in the EU, China, the U.S., and other regions address these challenges. By clarifying the scope of algorithmic governance and integrating counterarguments around disinformation and AI misuse, we develop a multilayered framework for human-centered AI oversight. We also examine geopolitical tensions shaping global digital sovereignty and propose actionable strategies to strengthen trust and civic participation. Figures highlight regional governance effectiveness, trust dynamics, and regulatory orientations. We conclude that algorithmic sovereignty must evolve as an interdisciplinary and participatory governance goal that reinforces democracy rather than undermining it. This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Price excludes VAT (USA) Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout. No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study. Ahmad, K., Rahman, M.: Supply chain resilience in SMEs: integration of generative AI in decision-making framework. In: Proceedings of the 2024 International Conference on Machine Intelligence and Smart Innovation, pp. 123–134 (2024) A new report by Beth Kerley, Carl Miller, and Fernanda Campagnucci outlines possible paths toward a prodemocratic vision for AI.

Like social media before them, new AI tools promise to change the game when it comes to civic engagement. These technologies offer bold new possibilities for investigative journalists, anticorruption advocates, and others working with limited resources to advance democratic norms. Yet the transformation wrought by AI advances is far from guaranteed to work in democracy’s favor. Potential threats to democracy from AI have drawn wide attention. To better the odds for prodemocratic actors in a fluid technological environment, systematic thinking about how to make AI work for democracy is needed. The essays in this report outline possible paths toward a prodemocratic vision for AI.

An overview essay by Beth Kerley based on insights from an International Forum for Democratic Studies expert workshop reflects on the critical questions that confront organizations seeking to deploy AI tools. Fernanda Campagnucci, spotlighting the work of Open Knowledge Brasil to open up government data, explores how AI advances are creating new opportunities for citizens to scrutinize public information. Finally, Demos’s Carl Miller sheds light on how AI technologies that enable new forms of civic deliberation might change the way we think about democratic participation itself. On October 3rd at 10:00 am EDT, the International Forum for Democratic Studies hosted a virtual event launching the new report, “Leveraging AI for Democracy: Civic Innovation on the New Digital Playing Field.” During... Christopher Walker (National Endowment for Democracy) provided opening remarks and Beth Kerley (International Forum) moderated the discussion. Watch here.

Professor of Public Policy, James Bryant Conant University Professor Director, Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation; Winthrop Laflin McCormack Professor of Citizenship and Self-Government Professor of the Practice of Public Policy, HKS; Gordon McKay Professor of the Practice of Computer Science, SEAS Creating a healthy digital civic infrastructure ecosystem means not just deploying technology for the sake of efficiency, but thoughtfully designing tools built to enhance democratic engagement from connection to action. Public engagement has long been too time-consuming and costly for governments to sustain, but AI offers tools to make participation more systematic and impactful. Our new Reboot Democracy Workshop Series replaces lectures with hands-on sessions that teach the practical “how-to’s” of AI-enhanced engagement.

Together with leading practitioners and partners at InnovateUS and the Allen Lab at Harvard, we’ll explore how AI can help institutions tap the collective intelligence of our communities more efficiently and effectively. Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming governance, enhancing public services, streamlining operations, and fostering civic engagement. This shift, driven by technological advancements, holds promise for creating more efficient, responsive, and inclusive governance systems. AI’s integration into governance systems varies across cities and countries. In Cheyenne, Wyoming, an AI-generated candidate named VIC (Virtual Integrated Citizen) is running for mayor. Created by Victor Miller, VIC aims to introduce data-driven decision-making in public administration.

In the UK, AI Steve, an AI-driven political candidate, seeks to revolutionize democracy by leveraging AI to engage directly with constituents. Created by businessman Steve Endacott, AI Steve proposes policies based on constituent feedback and data-driven insights, with Endacott acting as a physical representative to vote in Parliament. This approach aims to eliminate personal biases and enhance transparency in governance. Cities like Boston and San José are also leveraging AI to optimize public services. Boston employs AI to improve non-emergency service responses, enhancing efficiency and resident satisfaction. San José promotes responsible AI use, ensuring equitable and ethical benefits for all citizens.

AI’s capacity to process vast amounts of data and generate real-time insights is transforming public service management in cities. For example, Cambridge, Massachusetts, uses AI to adjust traffic signals dynamically, reducing congestion and emissions. This not only improves residents’ quality of life but also promotes environmental sustainability. When Facebook launched in 2004, it took 10 months to reach 1 million users. Twitter took two years. Spotify took five months, and Instagram took 2.5 months.

When ChatGPT launched in 2022, it reached 1 million users in five days. One year later, the large-language model (LLM) generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot had 100 million weekly users. As of March, that number is 500 million. “AI algorithms are becoming more powerful and affordable,” said Shir Raviv, a postdoctoral research fellow at Columbia University and a nonresident fellow with ISPS’s Democratic Innovations program. “Millions of people now use these tools daily, reshaping how citizens access and process information, communicate with elected officials, organize politically, and participate in society. The stakes and implications of this technology for democracy are far-reaching.”

Earlier this month, Raviv organized a conference bringing together a diverse group of scholars to explore the various ways in which AI and democracy increasingly intersect: the challenges AI poses to democratic processes, effective... Democratic Innovations aims to identify and test new ideas for improving the quality of democratic representation and governance. The emergence of artificial intelligence and its power go hand in hand with growing public anxiety about job security, media literacy, and almost every sector of everyday life. According to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey, 39 percent of Americans were highly concerned that AI would be mostly used for bad purposes during the 2024 presidential campaign, with only 5 percent believing... Current public consensus reflects growing fears over AI’s role in an increasingly digitized democracy, and for good reason. The increased use of AI-generated content and the shift of several countries including the Philippines, Myanmar, and the United States towards digital authoritarianism by embracing tools such as AI-powered mass surveillance raises the stakes...

Beyond the complexities posed to the information climate, the ability for faster content creation also holds the potential to impact democratic discourse and challenge the integrity of elections. But while these concerns have merit, what’s often missing from the conversation is AI’s potential to strengthen democratic systems and practices; how local governments, consulting platforms, and civic societies are using it as a... I conducted this research as part of my internship at the National Civic League’s Center for Democratic Innovation, which looks into understanding new and improved ways to make democracy more participatory, equitable, and productive. As a political science major who also studies communication technology platforms and practices, I have always been intrigued by the ways AI has penetrated and shaped the civic space, as well as in exploring... And yet, the realm of AI itself is inherently broad, and it can be difficult to grapple how it interacts with our democratic systems without a closer inspection of specific areas and case studies. The purpose of this article is to help readers better understand the status quo of how AI is being used in government and civic spaces and to shed light on the challenges and opportunities...

My research process consisted of four primary stages. My research identified three primary areas in which AI is being increasingly used in democratic life:

People Also Search

This Policy Brief Argues That Democratic Governance Must Evolve As

This policy brief argues that democratic governance must evolve as artificial intelligence becomes embedded in public life, often without transparency or public consent, and as the erosion of democratic processes directly threatens sustainable peace. Drawing on lessons from the 2025 UNDP Human Development Report and the 2024 UN Pact for the Future, this brief offers a framework for democratic digi...

This Policy Brief Argues That Democratic Governance Must Evolve To

This policy brief argues that democratic governance must evolve to meet this moment, as the erosion of democratic processes directly threatens sustainable peace. Drawing on lessons from the 2025 UNDP Human Development Report[1] and the 2024 UN Pact for the Future[2], this brief offers a framework for democratic digital governance that supports peacebuilding. It proposes five actions: establishing ...

Decisions About School Admissions, Law Enforcement, Welfare Eligibility, And Even

Decisions about school admissions, law enforcement, welfare eligibility, and even medical triage are increasingly shaped by algorithmic systems. These systems are often implemented without public debate and operate in ways that defy scrutiny, even by those tasked with managing them. The relationship between democratic governance and sustainable peace is fundamental. When algorithmic systems underm...

As The UNDP 2025 Human Development Report[1] "A Matter Of

As the UNDP 2025 Human Development Report[1] "A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI" makes clear, the benefits of AI are not automatic—they depend on the deliberate expansion of... Without inclusive governance frameworks, AI in fragile contexts can accelerate marginalisation and compound existing power asymmetries. Peacebuilding actors must treat digital governance as a fro...

Using A Mixed-methods Approach—content Analysis, Expert Interviews, And Comparative Policy

Using a mixed-methods approach—content analysis, expert interviews, and comparative policy review—we explore how regulatory frameworks in the EU, China, the U.S., and other regions address these challenges. By clarifying the scope of algorithmic governance and integrating counterarguments around disinformation and AI misuse, we develop a multilayered framework for human-centered AI oversight. We a...