Smart Cities and Human Rights: Digital Surveillance or a Tool for Strengthening Democracy?
Dang Cam Nhung Nguyen [Master of Laws Student, Paris-Panthéon-Assas University]
Dang Viet Dat [Senior Lecturer, Academy of Politics Region 4]
Abstract:
The development of smart cites in Southeast Asia is redefining the nature of urban governance thanks to the contribution of the integration of Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT). Theses technologies not only help to improve governance efficiency, but also enhance the quality of public service delivery, and promote evidence-based policymaking. However, they also pose the risks to human rights, particularly regarding privacy, personal data protection, and accountability in algorithmic governance.
This article aims to research and answer the following key research questions: (i) May smart city initiatives contribute to promoting democratic governance, or a means of increasing forms of digital surveillance? (ii) Through a comparative legal and governance approach, the paper examines three representative cases in Southeast Asia: Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok. The findings suggest that smart cities are not only technological transformations, but also become an important tool that can foster democratic governance in the digital age. On this basis, the article argues that balancing technological innovation with the protection of human rights requires establishing a robust legal and institutional framework, including comprehensive data protection mechanism, algorithmic transparency, and effective mechanisms of democratic oversight. Furthermore, the article further proposes a human rights-based approach of smart city governance as a foundational approach to ensure that digital initiatives do not erode, but rather enhances democratic values.
Smart Cities and Human Rights: Digital Surveillance or a Tool for Strengthening Democracy?
Dang Cam Nhung Nguyen [Master of Laws Student, Paris-Panthéon-Assas University]
Dang Viet Dat [Senior Lecturer, Academy of Politics Region 4]
Abstract:
The development of smart cites in Southeast Asia is redefining the nature of urban governance thanks to the contribution of the integration of Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT). Theses technologies not only help to improve governance efficiency, but also enhance the quality of public service delivery, and promote evidence-based policymaking. However, they also pose the risks to human rights, particularly regarding privacy, personal data protection, and accountability in algorithmic governance.
This article aims to research and answer the following key research questions: (i) May smart city initiatives contribute to promoting democratic governance, or a means of increasing forms of digital surveillance? (ii) Through a comparative legal and governance approach, the paper examines three representative cases in Southeast Asia: Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok. The findings suggest that smart cities are not only technological transformations, but also become an important tool that can foster democratic governance in the digital age. On this basis, the article argues that balancing technological innovation with the protection of human rights requires establishing a robust legal and institutional framework, including comprehensive data protection mechanism, algorithmic transparency, and effective mechanisms of democratic oversight. Furthermore, the article further proposes a human rights-based approach of smart city governance as a foundational approach to ensure that digital initiatives do not erode, but rather enhances democratic values.