Data Privacy Rights in Smart City Governance: Challenges and Policies
Keywords:
Smart City, Privacy, Citizens’ Rights, Artificial Intelligence, GovernanceAbstract
The present study was conducted with the aim of identifying the framework of data privacy rights and the legal challenges faced by citizens as a critical instrument in the governance of the emerging smart city ecosystem. Although understanding the various dimensions of the transformative phenomenon of artificial intelligence in urban management requires comprehensive interdisciplinary research, the importance of safeguarding citizens’ fundamental rights and fostering their participation as a core pillar of governance in smart cities has rendered the examination of its legal aspects increasingly essential. Accordingly, the research question addresses the nature of data privacy rights and the challenges to citizens’ rights in smart city governance. In terms of purpose, this research is applied, and with respect to its methodological approach, it is descriptive-analytical, with data collected through a library-based method. The findings present a novel framework of citizens’ concerns regarding data sensitivity as well as the purposes for which data are utilized, which facilitates the identification of fundamental data privacy challenges. The overall conclusion of the study indicates that the rapid and sometimes unpredictable development of emerging technologies, in addition to necessitating increased attention to technical factors, requires appropriate legislative measures to address existing legal gaps and deficiencies based on the proposed framework. Furthermore, by adopting a responsible artificial intelligence approach in smart city governance, it is necessary to design and implement national policies and programs that take into account the identified challenges, alongside regulatory measures targeting both actors and subjects within the urban environment, in order to ensure the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights.
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