Digital Governance — Definition

Definition

Digital governance is the use of technology within accountable public decision-making and service delivery. It differs from digitisation, which may simply convert an existing document or process into electronic form.

A digital service should improve reliable access, explainability, accuracy and resolution while preserving lawful safeguards. A portal can reduce travel yet create new barriers through inaccessible design, data errors or weak correction routes.

The authority remains responsible for the criteria and outcomes even when software performs part of the process. Ethical evaluation therefore follows the whole user journey and asks who can complete it, who is excluded and how mistakes are corrected.