REIMAGINING TRANSPARENCY IN THE DIGITAL AGE: THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005 AND THE CHALLENGES OF AI, ICT, AND E-GOVERNANCE

AUTHOR – MR. GANESH SHRIRANG NALE SATARKAR, M.A. SOCIOLOGY, 2ND YEAR, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY, CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF HARYANA.

BEST CITATION – MR. GANESH SHRIRANG NALE SATARKAR, REIMAGINING TRANSPARENCY IN THE DIGITAL AGE: THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005 AND THE CHALLENGES OF AI, ICT, AND E-GOVERNANCE, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL ON CYBERSPACE LAW AND POLICY, 3 (1) OF 2025, PG. 61-66, APIS – 3920-0012 | ISSN – 2583-7990

Abstract

The Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) symbolises India’s transition from administrative opacity to democratic accountability. Over the past two decades, it has empowered citizens to hold public institutions answerable. Yet the rapid expansion of digital governance—driven by Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and automation—has transformed how information is created, stored, and accessed. While these technologies can strengthen proactive disclosure and efficiency, they also raise complex challenges concerning privacy, cybersecurity, algorithmic bias, and equitable access.

                                           This paper critically evaluates India’s RTI framework within the context of digital transformation. It argues that existing institutions must adapt to an environment where governance data are mediated by digital infrastructures and algorithmic systems. The study uses a policy-research lens to examine statutory provisions, administrative practice, and case law, and proposes reforms aimed at building a digitally resilient and citizen-centric transparency regime. The paper concludes that sustaining India’s “right to know” in the age of digital governance requires harmonising openness with technological accountability and data protection.

Keywords: RTI Act, Digital Governance, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Data Protection, Policy Reform.