Public control over public policy in the context of digitalization: new forms of interaction between government and society

Abstract

Introduction. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to improve the efficiency of interaction between the state and society in the era of digital transformations, as well as the growing demand from citizens for participation in public policy management. Digitalization opens new horizons for the development of mechanisms of public control; however, it is accompanied by a number of challenges, such as digital inequality, information security, and the manipulative potential of technologies. Purpose. The author set the task of analyzing modern mechanisms for implementing public control over public policy in the context of digitalization, identifying their advantages and disadvantages, and proposing recommendations for improving these tools. In this regard, key digital platforms and technologies were examined, such as electronic petition portals, open data platforms, and e-participation projects. Materials and methods. The methodological basis of the study included systemic analysis, formal-legal methods, comparative analysis, content analysis, and sociological methods. During the research, key digital platforms and resources that contribute to the formation of new forms of interaction between government and society were analyzed. These included the Federal State Statistics Service portal, the open data platform data.gov.ru, executive authority projects (such as "Active Citizen" and the Public Council at the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation), as well as independent analytical platforms (VTsIOM, TAdviser, NAFI). Data from research centers and statistical information were used to evaluate the effectiveness of digital public control tools. Results. The author provides a critique of certain aspects of digital public control tools, such as low public engagement, issues of digital inequality, information security, and risks of manipulative influence of technologies. Arguments are made in defense of the potential of digital platforms to increase the transparency of government activities, expand opportunities for citizen participation in governance, and improve feedback mechanisms through tools like open data, electronic petitions, and online consultations. The author presents a vision of addressing contradictions between so-called absolute approaches (e.g., purely technological solutions without considering social context) and relative theories (which emphasize adapting technologies to societal needs), proposing a balance between implementing digital innovations and ensuring their accessibility, transparency, and security for all population groups. Conclusions. The article demonstrates that digitalization significantly transforms the mechanisms of public control over public policy, providing new tools for interaction between the state and society, such as electronic petitions, open data, online consultations, and social media. However, their effectiveness is limited by factors such as digital inequality, insufficient public engagement, information security concerns, and risks of manipulative technological influence. The author emphasizes the need to improve regulation of digital platforms, introduce innovative solutions (e.g., blockchain and artificial intelligence), and ensure a balance between transparency, accessibility, and security of public control processes to enhance citizens' trust in state institutions.