Mobility and electricity in the digital age Public values under tension

Public values under pressure

Mobility and electricity services as well as the related infrastructure, increasingly, are using ‘smart’ digital applications. What are the consequences of this practice? Will all people still have equal access to the road network, in the future? How reliable is the Dutch electricity supply, as it is becoming increasingly dependent on ICT?

This Trends Report clearly shows that, if we allow fully unrestricted digitalisation of our infrastructure, this will put pressure on public values such as accessibility, transparency, privacy and security of supply. Possible issues include equal access to public transport and security of supply for vital services such as electricity.

New rules of the game required

It is obvious that digitisation of the infrastructure calls for a different government role. Where, in the past, an investment strategy for and regulation of the use of the main physical infrastructure were sufficient, a more comprehensive regulatory strategy now seems to be vital. First of all, new rules are needed to protect and uphold core values; for example, those regarding smart system accessibility, privacy, transparency and democratic management.

The need for clear government guidelines, with unambiguous regulatory frameworks, does not mean that government authorities should unilaterally launch extensive plans for change or impose monitoring instruments. Government cannot steer innovation, but can provide sufficient possibilities for an improvising, innovating and experimenting society. PBL advocates a process of small steps and continuous adjustments that are based on evaluation.