Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is shared, public-interest digital systems (identity, payments, data, and compute) built as public goods for equitable access.
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is the shared digital systems a society builds as public goods: identity, payments, data exchange, and public compute. Like roads, water, or the power grid, DPI is open, interoperable, and governed in the public interest, so that everyone can reach the services that depend on it.
Why it matters for human rights
Access to essential services increasingly runs through digital systems. When that infrastructure is open and accountable, it widens access and protects people’s rights to participation, information, and equal treatment. When it is closed or extractive, it can exclude the very communities that need it most. Building DPI as a public good is therefore a human-rights question as much as a technical one.
Principles of good DPI
- Public-interest governance. Accountable to the people it serves, not only to shareholders.
- Open standards that are interoperable and free of vendor lock-in.
- Inclusion by design, so it’s usable by everyone, including those with the least access.
- Data protection and residency. Sensitive data handled safely and kept under appropriate jurisdiction.
An example: CalCompute
CalCompute is a public cloud and AI platform for California’s public agencies and universities, a concrete example of Digital Public Infrastructure built for the public good.
Frequently asked questions
What is Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)?
Digital Public Infrastructure is the shared digital systems a society builds as public goods, such as identity, payments, data exchange, and public compute. Like roads or power grids, DPI is open, interoperable, and governed in the public interest so everyone can reach essential services.
How does DPI relate to human rights?
Digital Public Infrastructure determines who can access digital services and on what terms. Built openly, inclusively, and accountably, it advances rights to participation, information, and equal access. Built poorly, it can exclude people or concentrate power, which is why public-interest governance matters.