Brussels, 7 March 2025
From robots to chatbots, emerging technology can make public administrations more efficient and responsive. It is critical, however, that these innovations are adopted in ethical and trustworthy ways. To address this, the EU-funded ETAPAS project developed a framework to help the public sector handle the ethical, social and legal challenges of emerging technologies.
Public administrations across Europe are constantly looking to enhance the quality and consistency of services they deliver to citizens. These services can range from accessing key services to drafting and submitting important documentation. Here, new digital technologies offer much potential.
“Public authorities need to seize this opportunity,” says ETAPAS project coordinator Roberta Lotti from the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance. “To do this though, they need to be able to manage the risks and potential impacts that new technological solutions might present. This means not only mitigating risks, but also maximising the benefits for citizens and public administrations themselves.”
The goal behind the ETAPAS project was to provide public sector organisations with practical and clearly structured guidance in adopting emerging technologies such as AI, big data and robotic care assistants. A key aim was to ensure privacy protection, avoid discriminatory biases and safeguard public safety.
“To achieve this, we started by looking at public administrations’ needs,” explains Lotti. This work revealed that a lack of resources and a lack of trust in emerging technologies were key reasons for low uptake. “This analysis helped us define how we could support services at the organisational level,” she adds.
A responsible disruptive technology framework
Out of this analysis, the ETAPAS project team developed what it calls its Responsible Disruptive Technology (RDT) Framework. This framework includes a code of conduct, an extensive risk framework and an in-depth analysis of relevant European laws.
The framework also includes a questionnaire and tailored computational indicators on disruptive technologies. A validation methodology details the steps to be followed to apply new technologies.
To pull this framework together and to ensure that it was easy to apply, the project team developed a Governance Platform. This enables users to graphically view all aspects such as new technology assessments, questionnaires and recommendations. A comprehensive step-by-step guide for public sector administrators on implementation of the framework was also made available. “Together, these aspects will enable public sector administrators to better govern these new technologies, as well as manage their risks,” says Lotti.
The ETAPAS approach was co-designed with public sector organisations, and validated through four use cases in Greece, Italy and Norway. Each pilot explored a different disruptive technology application. In Greece, AI was used to identify fake news, while in Italy, the case study involved the publication and dissemination of big data, including anonymised personal and sensitive information held by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Also in Italy, a humanoid robot assisted in patients’ medical recovery, while in Norway, an AI-based chatbot answered citizens’ questions.
Strengthening citizen trust, increasing transparency
The ETAPAS team believes that the solutions and guidance developed will help public administrations at the national, regional and local level to address the ethical, social and legal risks of adopting new technologies. This will ultimately mean better digital services for all.
In this way, Lotti sees ETAPAS as having contributed to strengthening citizen trust in public institutions, while increasing transparency and accessibility. Additionally, by supporting the trustworthy adoption of new technologies in the public sphere, the project will help to open an attractive marketplace for European technology developers.
“Today, we have a ready-to-use methodology and approach for public administrations,” notes Lotti. “We saw four years ago, when this project began, how so many technologies were being used in the private sector. This is why we decided to embark on this journey, to see how we could help the public sector close this gap.”
Indeed, for Lotti and her team, the project’s framework is more than just simply technology or risk-based; it is, rather, a holistic approach to implementing disruptive technologies in the public sector. “Our work developed and evolved as new technologies came online,” she adds. “We really wanted this to be in line with Europe’s vision of modernising public administrations, and to better facilitate digital interaction between administrations and citizens.”
See also: More information about project ETAPAS