Conclusion

Responding to emerging urban issues from gentrification to forced evictions & the privatisation of public space, the United Nations 2016 New Urban Agenda historically incorporated the concept of a “right to the city”: We share a vision of cities for all, referring to the equal use and enjoyment of cities and human settlements, seeking to promote inclusivity and ensure that all inhabitants, of present and future generations, without discrimination of any kind, are able to inhabit and produce just, safe, healthy, accessible, affordable, resilient and sustainable cities.

Richard Rogers presents a vision of technology and the city becoming inseparable: buildings, the city and its citizens will be one inseparable organism sheltered by a perfectly fitting, ever-changing framework … constantly adjusting through electronic … self-programing. The National Infrastructure Commision describes the more concrete concept of a digital twin for public infrastructure in their Data for Public Good report.

It is time to unify these concepts to define a “right to the digital city”: access to evolving digital services that both fit and meaningfully shape the city. Services that are open, transparent, accountable and inclusive.

About the authors

Andrew Eland is Director of Engineering for health at DeepMind, a London based artificial intelligence company. Richard Pope is COO at IF, a London based digital rights consultancy, and a fellow of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. This response was written in our capacity as Londoners. We’d like to thank Sarah Drinkwater and Sarah Gold for their extensive input.