Introduction to the Special Issue on Smart Government Development and Applications

Abstract

An information and knowledge society creates value by gathering, processing, evaluating, and sharing digital products and services. Knowledge society relies on emerging technologies with intelligence and automation for information and communication processes between governmental institutions, private companies, and citizens to facilitate and support better planning and decision-making. Relying on advanced information and communication technologies demands new ways of smart government with data-driven, citizen-centric, and performance-focused governance. The main objectives of the Special Issue are as follows: first, to share the theoretical advances and practical cases of smart government applied in the academic and public sectors, as well as industry; second, to discuss the progress and challenges in innovative smart government service design, implementation, and delivery pipelines. The special issue features contributions from representatives of governments, international organizations, and researchers around the globe on technical and non-technical aspects of smart government, smart health, smart and cognitive cities, smart democracy, smart society, and digital ethics.

Full text

Introduction to the Special Issue on Smart Government Development
and Applications
LUIS TERÁN,Business, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Luzern, Switzerland and Informat-
ics, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
CARMEN VACA,Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral, Guayaquil, Ecuador
DANIEL RIOFRIO,Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
MATTHIAS STÜRMER,Institute for Public Sector Transformation, Bern University of Applied Sciences,
Bern, Switzerland
An information and knowledge society creates value by gathering, processing, evaluating, and sharing digital products and
services. Knowledge society relies on emerging technologies with intelligence and automation for information and communi-
cation processes between governmental institutions, private companies, and citizens to facilitate and support better planning
and decision-making. Relying on advanced information and communication technologies demands new ways of smart gov-
ernment with data-driven, citizen-centric, and performance-focused governance. The main objectives of the Special Issue
are as follows: rst, to share the theoretical advances and practical cases of smart government applied in the academic and
public sectors, as well as industry; second, to discuss the progress and challenges in innovative smart government service
design, implementation, and delivery pipelines. The special issue features contributions from representatives of governments,
international organizations, and researchers around the globe on technical and non-technical aspects of smart government,
smart health, smart and cognitive cities, smart democracy, smart society, and digital ethics.
CCS Concepts: • Applied computing →E-government;Voting / election technologies;Health care information
systems;Health informatics;•Social and professional topics →Sustainability;Codes of ethics;Governmental reg-
ulations;Digital rights management;Technology and censorship;Medical technologies;
Additional Key Words and Phrases: Smart government, smart health, smart and cognitive cities, smart democracy, smart
society, digital ethics
ACM Reference Format:
Luis Terán, Carmen Vaca, Daniel Riofrio, and Matthias Stürmer. 2024. Introduction to the Special Issue on Smart
Government Development and Applications. Digit. Gov. Res. Pract. 5, 3, Article 17 (September 2024), 9 pages.
https://doi.org/10.1145/3691353
Authors’ Contact Information: Luis Terán, Business, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Luzern, Switzerland and Informatics,
University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland; e-mail: luis.teran@hslu.ch; Carmen Vaca, Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral, Guayaquil,
Guayas, Ecuador; e-mail: cvaca@ec.espol.edu.ec; Daniel Riofrio, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador; e-mail:
driofrioa@usfq.edu.ec; Matthias Stürmer, Institute for Public Sector Transformation, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Bern, Bern,
Switzerland; e-mail: matthias.stuermer@bfh.ch.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License.
© 2024 Copyright held by the owner/author(s).
ACM 2639-0175/2024/09-ART17
https://doi.org/10.1145/3691353
Digit. Gov. Res. Pract., Vol. 5, No. 3, Article 17. Publication date: September 2024.

17:2 • L. Terán et al.
1 Introduction
The term “smart government” encompasses using advanced technology, specically information and
communication technology (ICT), to optimize government operations’ eectiveness, transparency, and
adaptability. Initiatives related to smart government frequently involve smart governance, smart health, smart
and cognitive cities, smart democracy, smart society, digital ethics, data analysis, and integrating applications to
enhance public services and citizen participation. The ultimate goal of smart government is to establish a more
sustainable, citizen-focused governance model that can adapt to the population’s changing needs in real-time.
Digital governance represents a transformative shift in how public services are managed, delivered, and per-
ceived. As digital technologies evolve rapidly, they oer unprecedented opportunities to enhance government
operations’ eciency, transparency, and inclusivity, which are often complicated and inecient without such
advancements.
This special issue of the journal brings together a collection of research that examines various aspects of
digital governance, providing insights into best practices, ecient workows, and the inherent challenges of
integrating digital technologies into public administration to serve citizens better and understand the impact of
these services.
2 Impact and Perspectives of Smart Government and Applications
The impact of smart government and its applications is transformative, reshaping how public services are deliv-
ered and governance is conducted. Smart government leverages AI, IoT, and big data to enhance decision-making,
eciency, and transparency. This shift enables real-time data-driven policies, more responsive public services,
and increased citizen engagement. The perspective includes balancing innovation with privacy concerns, ensur-
ing equitable access to digital services, and fostering public trust in automated systems. As technology evolves,
the role of smart government is expected to expand, integrating more advanced applications to meet the dynamic
needs of society.
2.1 Impact of Smart Government
Eciency and Cost Reduction. Smart government initiatives are crucial in improving operational eciency
within public administration. Integrating ICT in governmental processes has been instrumental in reducing the
reliance on paperwork, streamlining service delivery, and minimizing human errors. For example, the introduc-
tion of e-government services has revolutionized the way citizens interact with government agencies, for in-
stance, allowing online tax ling, which has led to a substantial decrease in administrative costs and processing
times [1–3,30,32].
Transparency and Accountability. Promoting transparency and accountability in governance is greatly
facilitated by utilizing digital platforms that oer unrestricted access to governmental data and procedures.
Technological innovation enables the creation of secure and transparent systems for managing and document-
ing government-related activities, ultimately fostering a more accountable and trustworthy administration
[10,16,19,20,24,25,41].
Citizen Engagement. Digital platforms play a crucial role in enhancing citizen participation in governance.
Through various tools such as online forums, mobile applications, and social media, citizens are empowered to
oer feedback, participate in policy deliberations, and contribute to a more inclusive governance model. These
platforms provide avenues for open dialogue and enable a wider range of voices to be heard, ultimately leading
to more robust and representative decision-making processes [22,31,33,38,40].
Service Quality Improvement. Smart applications, like chatbots powered by articial intelligence and Internet
of Things (IoT) devices, play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of public services. These advanced tech-
nologies empower the delivery of personalized services and enable real-time resolution of issues. For example,
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Introduction to the Special Issue on Smart Government Development and Applications • 17:3
intelligent trac management systems contribute to the reduction of congestion and enhancement of urban
mobility [4,6,8,26,36,39].
2.2 Perspectives of Smart Government
Data Security and Privacy Concerns. Adopting smart government applications oers numerous benets but
also gives rise to important data security and privacy considerations. Safeguarding sensitive information against
cyber threats presents a signicant and complex challenge that must be addressed thoughtfully and comprehen-
sively [21,34,43,44].
Digital Divide. The digital divide, which refers to the gap between those with access to modern ICT and those
without, remains a pressing issue today. Unequal access to technology can further widen disparities in education,
employment, and access to essential services. Therefore, governments and organizations must prioritize strate-
gies to close this gap and ensure all individuals have equitable access to digital services. By doing so, we can
work towards a more inclusive and fair society where everyone can benet from technological advancements
[11,13,17,35].
Interoperability and Standardization. For smart government applications to eciently serve their purpose, it
is crucial to ensure interoperability between dierent systems and standardization of data formats. It can be
achieved by developing robust frameworks and fostering collaboration among diverse governmental and non-
governmental entities [7,9,23,37].
Change Management. Transitioning to a smart government involves implementing substantial organizational
changes to adapt to new technologies and processes. It includes redening operational structures, updating poli-
cies, and integrating advanced digital tools. To successfully navigate this transition, governments must allocate
resources for comprehensive training and capacity-building programs. These initiatives are crucial to ensure
that public servants possess the necessary skills and knowledge to eectively utilize and leverage the benets of
emerging technologies in delivering public services and addressing societal needs [5,15,18,28,29,42].
Ethical and Legal Considerations. Integrating AI and other advanced technologies in governance presents a
landscape of complex ethical and legal considerations. Implementing these technologies to uphold human rights
and comply with legal standards to safeguard against potential misuse and discrimination [12,14,16,27].
Smart government initiatives can transform public administration by improving eciency, transparency, and
citizen engagement. However, addressing challenges related to data security, the digital divide, interoperability,
change management, and ethical considerations is crucial to realizing this potential. Future research should
focus on developing comprehensive strategies to mitigate these challenges and maximize the benets of smart
government applications.
3 Overview of the Special Issue Articles
This special issue has 18 articles. The articles focused on dierent ranges of the application that addresses the
following topics, but not limited to smart government, smart health, smart and cognitive cities, smart democracy,
smart society, and digital ethics.
3.1 Transparency and Accountability
The rst article, “Digital Transformation of Tax Administration and Compliance: A Systematic Literature Review
on E-Invoicing and Prelled Returns [25],” systematically reviews the impact of digital technologies, specically
electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) and prelled tax returns, on tax administration and compliance. The ndings re-
veal that these technologies signicantly reduce tax compliance and administrative costs, simplify the taxpayer’s
role, and improve the eciency of tax systems globally. It contributes to understanding the transformative eects
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17:4 • L. Terán et al.
of these technologies in taxation and highlights their potential to streamline processes and improve compliance
and administrative eciencies.
The fth article, “Opinion Change or Dierential Turnout: Changing Opinions on the Austin Police Depart-
ment in a Budget Feedback Process [20],” presents an analysis of opinion shifts concerning police funding in
Austin, Texas, following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. It details how public opinion on police funding
shifted signicantly during an online budget feedback process, with overwhelming support for reducing police
funding after the event, which the authors describe as an “exogenous shock.” This opinion shift persisted into a
follow-up study in 2021, indicating a lasting change rather than a temporary reaction. The study highlights the
utility of analyzing clustered opinions in participatory budgeting (PB) exercises and illustrates the implica-
tions of such opinion shifts for policy and administrative decision-making.
The sixteenth article, “Explaining the (non-) Use of Voting Advice Applications (VAAS)[41],” delves into
the use of VAAS for information acquisition in elections. VAAs have primarily been recognized as a voter guide
through their electoral decision-making. In this work, authors analyze how voters’ characteristics aect the use
of VAAs and what makes individuals not use the application. They presented the results of a panel survey in
which we randomly invited some survey respondents to use a VAA during an electoral campaign in the canton
of Bern, Switzerland. The results show that while signicant dierences exist between respondents in and out
of the experimental setting, political knowledge and interest are consistent drivers of VAA use.
The seventeenth article, “A Pertinence Score for Political Discourse Analysis: The Case of 2018 Colombian
Elections [19],” introduces a method using word embeddings and linguistic models to measure the relevance of
political discourse on national issues like the economy and health. It was applied to the 2018 Colombian pres-
idential election, revealing dierences in thematic relevance between candidates. Survey validation conrmed
the model’s ability to discern ideological positions through lexical analysis.
3.2 Citizen Engagement
The second article, “The Role of Social Media Platforms in Forecasting Elections: A Comparison of Twitter and
Facebook [40],” explores the predictive power of social media platforms, particularly Twitter and Facebook, in
forecasting election outcomes, using the 2019 Finnish parliamentary elections as a case study. It investigates
how the number of Facebook likes and Twitter followers correlates with election results and examines the mod-
erating eect of candidates’ political experience on these relationships. The results indicate that both Facebook
likes and Twitter followers positively impact election outcomes, with political experience moderating this eect.
Furthermore, the study highlights the dierential impact of the two platforms, suggesting that Facebook likes
are a stronger predictor of election success than Twitter followers.
The third article, “Strategic Analysis in the Public Sector Using Semantic Web Technologies [8],” discusses
how Semantic Web (SW) technologies, particularly ontologies, are applied to strategic analysis in the public
sector. The study outlines the use of ontologies for enhancing strategy formulation and execution within pub-
lic organizations, focusing on improving interoperability and data-driven decision-making. It emphasizes that
ontologies can signicantly aid in validating and evaluating performance indicators and strategic objectives.
Furthermore, the research showcases a case study involving the National Laboratory for Civil Engineering in
Portugal, demonstrating SW technologies’ practical applications and benets in a real-world setting.
The fourth article, “Co-Design Smart Disaster Management Systems with Indigenous Communities [38],” fo-
cuses on the collaboration between researchers and tribal nations to co-design AI-enhanced disaster manage-
ment systems, including chatbots and drones. It explores tribal governments’ perceptions of these technologies
for disaster reporting. The research involved participatory design studies with tribal emergency managers and
included design workshops on tribal lands. Key ndings show strong support from tribal communities for us-
ing these technologies to enhance disaster management, with AI tools like chatbots and drones streamlining
reporting and resource allocation during emergencies.
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Introduction to the Special Issue on Smart Government Development and Applications • 17:5
3.3 Service ality Improvement
The sixth article, “Governing Smart City IoT Interventions: A Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) Perspective
[39],” investigates the ethical concerns of a proposed Smart City IoT platform, analyzing the governance of such
interventions in urban infrastructure systems (UIS) from a CAS perspective. It highlights how IoT technology
can transform urban infrastructure by optimizing ow networks and integrating various data sources while
raising ethical concerns regarding privacy, equity, and autonomy. The study suggests a governance framework
to address these concerns aimed at aiding city authorities in eectively overseeing the implementation of Smart
City IoT platforms. The results underscore the potential of IoT to enhance urban infrastructure eciency but
emphasize the need for robust governance mechanisms to mitigate ethical risks.
The fourteenth article, “Recommending Career Transitions to Job Seekers Using Earnings Estimates, Skills Sim-
ilarity, and Occupational Demand [26],” proposes a career recommendation algorithm that uses government data
to help job seekers nd new careers with similar job seekers’ successful transitions. The algorithm addresses the
uncertainty of moving to a new industry or occupation. It utilizes causal machine learning techniques, individual-
level employment data, skill similarity measures across occupations, and occupational demand to recommend
careers based on similar skills, available jobs, and projected higher earnings and employment. The algorithm is
currently implemented in production in ve U.S. states’ workforce development systems.
3.4 Eiciency and Cost Reduction
The seventh article, “Designing a Digital Environment to Support the Co-production of Public Services: Balancing
Multiple Requirements and Governance Concepts [32],” discusses the design and evaluation of a digital collabo-
ration platform intended to support the co-production of public services. It addresses the challenges in balancing
various socio-technical requirements, including governance models and the collaboration dynamics among pub-
lic administrations, private stakeholders, and citizens. The platform facilitates the entire co-production process,
from the initial idea generation to the collaborative delivery of services, oering guidance, support for collabo-
rative work, and a repository of reusable resources. The study highlights the platform’s ecacy through a pre-
liminary evaluation with three public administrations, indicating that specic functionalities like the guidance
on organizing co-production initiatives are particularly benecial.
The eighteenth article, “Cognitive Urban Planning Enhancing Decision-Making in Local Governments [30],”
focuses on the impact of collective intelligence, geographical information systems, and cognitive systems in
supporting decision-making for local governments to address challenges outlined by the UN Urban Agenda 2017.
The research used a participatory action research method and tested a model called Cognitive Urban Planning
(PUC) in three Ecuadorian municipalities. The results showed improved decision-making in urban planning,
with interactive participation through PUC allowing for collaborative neighborhood plan development in real-
time. The study concluded that the decision-making plan could enhance community participation through city
co-creation and support inclusive urban planning, aligning with citizens’ desires and needs.
3.5 Change Management
The eighth article, “Understanding the Determinants of Digital Innovation in California Local Governments:
Digital Inequality and Agency Assignment Perspectives [29],” explores how digital innovations, specically in
California local governments, are shaped by institutional factors and community characteristics. It examines
the role of community wealth, education levels, and the presence of independent IT departments in inuenc-
ing engagement with digital innovations. The research utilizes logistic regression analyses to demonstrate that
wealthier and more educated communities and those with dedicated IT departments are more likely to engage ac-
tively in digital innovations. Based on these factors, the ndings suggest a signicant digital divide, emphasizing
the need for inclusive strategies to enhance digital engagement across all communities.
The ninth article, “Designing Digital Voting Systems for Citizens: Achieving Fairness and Legitimacy in PB
[42],” discusses the design of digital voting systems for PB, aiming to enhance fairness and legitimacy by enabling
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17:6 • L. Terán et al.
citizens to propose and vote on urban projects directly. It explores various voting input and aggregation rules to
determine how these can aect the outcomes of PB processes. Through behavioral experiments, the study iden-
ties voting methods that minimize cognitive load while maximizing fairness and legitimacy from the citizens’
perspective. The ndings suggest that more expressive voting formats, such as ranking and distributing points,
are preferred over simpler ones, like approval voting, enhancing the perceived fairness and eectiveness of the
PB process.
The eleventh article, “From Document-Centric to Data-Centric Public Service Provision [28],” discusses the
move towards digitalizing public administration has not replaced the use of paper or electronic documents. The
authors believe it is necessary to shift from focusing on documents to focusing on data when providing public
services. This change can be made possible today by using new technologies. The authors propose a theoretical
framework for providing public services that involves taking preconditions from legislation, connecting the
required evidence to the service needs, standardizing types of evidence, and combining reliable data sources.
However, this shift is not without its technical and organizational challenges, as indicated by the analysis of
the “National Registry of Administrative Public Services” in Greece. Further research should focus on aligning
policies, maintaining trust, and coordinating institutional processes.
The twelfth article, “Will the metaverse be out of control? Addressing the ethical and governance implications
of a developing virtual society [14],” highlights the rise of the metaverse and how it brings new ethical challenges
to society. This article discusses the ethical challenges of the future metaverse to help society prepare responsibly.
The authors looked at extensive research and discovered little information about the metaverse and its eects
on society. After dening the metaverse concept and reviewing its dierent aspects, the authors present an
overview of ethical challenges that call for awareness and responsible action in the future and propose some
potential governance topics for future research on the metaverse.
3.6 Data Security and Privacy Concerns
The tenth article, “Proof of Work (PoW) and Secure Element in CDN-assisted Online Voting [44],” explores the
implementation of a secure, modular electronic voting system that incorporates PoW and Secure Elements (SE)
within Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) to improve voting integrity and security. The proposed system
uses PoW to validate the integrity of each vote and SEs to ensure secure, location-specic voting, addressing
common vulnerabilities in electronic voting, such as coercion and fraud. By decentralizing the storage and pro-
cessing of votes using CDNs, the system enhances availability and resistance to tampering, aiming for a scalable
solution that can be audited and veried by the general public. Additionally, the document discusses potential
weaknesses in this architecture, emphasizing the importance of addressing them to ensure the system’s robust-
ness and trustworthiness.
3.7 Interoperability and Standardization
The thirteenth article, “Evaluating Zero Rating: A Comparative Analysis of four South American Countries [37],”
discusses how zero-rating is applied by mobile network operators that do not count the data used in specic
applications against a subscriber’s Internet data allowance. This work presents how regulations in South America
have some limitations on zero-rating, but many providers and users accept it. Nevertheless, some users think
zero-rating might be unfair and go against users’ rights and fairness on the Internet, while others say it helps
people get users for less money. This article examines how zero-rating is used in Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and
Ecuador. It aims to understand how it aects access, competition, use, and cost. The study nds that zero rating
has dierent eects in dierent places.
3.8 Digital Divide
The fteenth article, “Accessibility Analysis of Educational Websites Using WCAG 2.0 [13],” is dedicated to
web content accessibility to accommodate users with diverse abilities. This study evaluated the accessibility
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Introduction to the Special Issue on Smart Government Development and Applications • 17:7
of thirteen education board websites from developing and developed countries using six Web Content
Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) tools. The ndings highlighted more accessibility issues in developing
countries’ websites, with prominent text contrast failures in selected web pages. The study also suggested using
LLM to make websites accessible.
4 A Research Agenda Towards The Development of Smart Government
The articles in this special issue illustrate the breadth of the area of today’s smart government research. There
are technological, organizational, nancial, and regulatory challenges ahead that need to be addressed by future
work on smart government. Research questions may include the following:
—Technological benets: When do AI, IoT, and other digital technologies used for smart government applica-
tions lead to added value for the citizens and the industry?
—Public procurement: How must public procurement of digital technologies be designed to allow companies
to provide innovative solutions while preserving the public value of the results?
—Sustainable digitalization: What is the appropriate level of regulation to control digital technology (e.g.,
“right to repair”) to increase sustainable transformation while preserving innovation?
—Cybersecurity: How do governments need to secure their communications platforms to build trust while
maintaining privacy and security?
—Platform dynamics: On which online channels do governments reach their citizens best in the long run?
—Digital sovereignty: What is the price of technological autonomy and other resources that governments
must invest in reducing vendor lock-in from hyperscalers and other multi-nationals?
—Digital public goods: How can the government incentivize entrepreneurs to contribute to open source
projects, open data, and other forms of digital sustainability?
—Digital ethics: How much regulation do governments have to install to reach an adequate level of ethical
solutions and behavior?
—Digital public infrastructure: How much digital services and infrastructure does the government need to
provide to achieve an optimal level of public versus privately funded digital technology?
—Participation and collaboration: How can governments motivate people to participate in decision-making
and collaborate in delivering digital goods and services while ensuring inclusiveness?
Key research areas include the development of frameworks for data governance and privacy protection, en-
suring cybersecurity in governmental operations, and exploring the ethical implications of technology use in
public administration. Additionally, it is crucial to investigate the impacts of smart government initiatives on
transparency, accountability, and public trust. Collaborative eorts between academia, industry, and govern-
ment agencies are essential to address these challenges and leverage technological advancements to create more
ecient, responsive, and inclusive governance systems.
Acknowledgments
We want to thank the authors and the reviewers for their outstanding contributions to this special issue. Special
thanks go to the editors-in-chief, Beth Simone Noveck and Soon-ae Chun, for letting us serve as guest editors. We
would also like to thank the administrative team of Digital Government: Research and Practice for their guidance
and support throughout the editorial process.
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189–209.
[23] Shuaiyan Han. 2023. Enhancing digital government: A roadmap for standardization, coordination, and collaboration. Academic Journal
of Management and Social Sciences 3, 3 (2023), 186–192.
[24] Fera Tri Hartanti, Jemal H. Abawajy, Morshed Chowdhury, and Wervyan Shalannanda. 2021. Citizens’ trust measurement in smart
government services. IEEE Access 9 (2021), 150663–150676.
[25] Siamand Hesami, Hatice Jenkins, and Glenn P. Jenkins. 2024. Digital transformation of tax administration and compliance: A sys-
tematic literature review on E-Invoicing and prelled returns. Digit. Gov.: Res. Pract. (jan 2024). DOI:https://doi.org/10.1145/3643687
Just Accepted.
[26] Mark Howison, Joe Long, and Justine S. Hastings. 2024. Recommending career transitions to job seekers using earnings estimates, skills
similarity, and occupational demand. Digit. Gov.: Res. Pract. (jul 2024). DOI:https://doi.org/10.1145/3678261 Just Accepted.
[27] Kevin KW Ip and Kail Crystal C. Cheng. 2022. Smart city development in Hong Kong: An ethical analysis. China Perspectives (2022),
21–30.
Digit. Gov. Res. Pract., Vol. 5, No. 3, Article 17. Publication date: September 2024.

Introduction to the Special Issue on Smart Government Development and Applications • 17:9
[28] Ioannis Konstantinidis, Eleni Kapantai, Alexios Michailidis, Athanasios Deligiannis, Christos Berberidis, Ioannis Magnisalis, and
Vassilios Peristeras. 2024. From document-centric to data-centric public service provision. Digit. Gov.: Res. Pract. (jul 2024). DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1145/3676279 Just Accepted.
[29] Kwon M., Lee E., Hong S, and Chun S. 2024. Understanding the determinants of digital innovation in California local governments:
Digital inequality and agency assignment perspectives. Digit. Gov.: Res. Pract. (may 2024). Just Accepted.
[30] Jaime Meza, Pedro Jimenez-Pacheco, Leticia Vaca-Cardenas, and Emanuel Munoz. 2024. Cognitive urban planning enhancing decision-
making in local governments. Digit. Gov.: Res. Pract. (may 2024). Just Accepted.
[31] Jaime Meza, Leticia Vaca-Cardenas, Monica Elva Vaca-Cardenas, Luis Teran, and Edy Portmann. 2021. A human-machine collaboration
model for urban planning in smart cities. Computer 54, 6 (2021), 24–35.
[32] Elena Not, Chiara Leonardi, Diego López-De-Ipiña, Daniel Andres Silva Palacios, Ruben Sánchez-Corcuera, Raman Kazhamiakin, and
Matteo Gerosa. 2024. Designing a digital environment to support the co-production of public services: Balancing multiple requirements
and governance concepts. Digit. Gov.: Res. Pract. (may 2024). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3664612 Just Accepted.
[33] Ayman Ahmad Obedait, Mohamed Youssef, and Nikolina Ljepava. 2019. Citizen-centric approach in delivery of smart government
services. In Smart Technologies and Innovation for a Sustainable Future: Proceedings of the 1st American University in the Emirates Inter-
national Research Conference–Dubai, UAE 2017. Springer, 73–80.
[34] Jose Ramon Saura, Domingo Ribeiro-Soriano, and Daniel Palacios-Marqués. 2022. Assessing behavioral data science privacy issues in
government articial intelligence deployment. Government Information Quarterly 39, 4 (2022), 101679.
[35] Nahed Hamouda sharawy and Khaled Barakat. 2022. Mechanisms for bridging the digital divide in international experiences: Solutions
to enhance E-Governance in Egypt. Arab Journal of Administration (2022), 1–22.
[36] Tara Qian Sun and Rony Medaglia. 2019. Mapping the challenges of Articial Intelligence in the public sector: Evidence from public
healthcare. Government Information Quarterly 36, 2 (2019), 368–383.
[37] Roberto Triviño, Antonio Franco, and Rafael-Leonardo Ochoa-Urrego. 2024. Evaluating zero rating: A comparative analysis of four
South American Countries. Digit. Gov.: Res. Pract. (jul 2024). DOI:https://doi.org/10.1145/3678262 Just Accepted.
[38] Chun-Hua Tsai, Chenyu (Victor) Huang, Yu-Che Chen, Edouardo Zendejas, Sarah Krafka, and Jordan Zendejas. 2024. Co-design smart
disaster management systems with Indigenous communities. Digit. Gov.: Res. Pract. (apr 2024). DOI:https://doi.org/10.1145/3660643 Just
Accepted.
[39] Vinay Reddy Venumuddala, Amit Prakash, and Bidisha Chaudhuri. 2024. Governing smart city IoT interventions: A complex adaptive
systems perspective. Digit. Gov.: Res. Pract. (apr 2024). DOI:https://doi.org/10.1145/3660644 Just Accepted.
[40] Tapio Vepsäläinen, Hongxiu Li, and Reima Suomi. 2024. The role of social media platforms in forecasting elections: A comparison of
Twitter and Facebook. Digit. Gov.: Res. Pract. (mar 2024). DOI:https://doi.org/10.1145/3651227 Just Accepted.
[41] Maxime Walder, Jan Fivaz, Daniel Schwarz, and Nathalie Giger. 2024. Explaining the (non-) use of voting advice applications. Digit.
Gov.: Res. Pract. (may 2024). Just Accepted.
[42] Joshua C. Yang, Carina I. Hausladen, Dominik Peters, Evangelos Pournaras, Regula Hänggli Fricker, and Dirk Helbing. 2024. Designing
digital voting systems for citizens: Achieving fairness and legitimacy in participatory budgeting. Digit. Gov.: Res. Pract. (may 2024).
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1145/3665332 Just Accepted.
[43] Longzhi Yang, Noe Elisa, and Neil Eliot. 2019. Privacy and security aspects of E-government in smart cities. In Smart Cities Cybersecurity
and Privacy. Elsevier, 89–102.
[44] Vitaly Zuevsky. 2024. Proof of work and secure element in CDN-assisted online voting. Digit. Gov.: Res. Pract. (may 2024). DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1145/3664821 Just Accepted.
Received 27 August 2024; revised 27 August 2024; accepted 28 August 2024
Digit. Gov. Res. Pract., Vol. 5, No. 3, Article 17. Publication date: September 2024.