A Documental Theory Based Approach towards Digital Public Infrastructure

Lawrence, P.
Journal of Ethics and Emerging Technologies
2026

This article develops a documental theory-based approach to understanding digital public infrastructure (DPI) and its role in contemporary social and technological systems. Drawing on the philosophical framework of documental theory, the article conceptualizes digital infrastructures not merely as technical systems but as structures that produce, organize, preserve, and regulate socially significant information and relations. This perspective highlights the constitutive role of documents, data, records, and computational processes in shaping institutional practices and public life. The article argues that a documental approach can provide a deeper conceptual foundation for analysing the governance, legitimacy, and ethical implications of DPI. It further examines how digital infrastructures mediate interactions between citizens, institutions, and technological systems, while raising questions concerning accessibility, accountability, privacy, and control. By connecting documental theory with emerging debates on digital governance, the article offers a philosophical framework for understanding DPI as both a technological and socio-institutional phenomenon. This approach contributes to broader discussions of digital transformation, public value, and the ethical design of digital infrastructures.

Lawrence, P. (2026). A documental theory-based approach towards digital public infrastructure. Journal of Ethics and Emerging Technologies, 36 (2).