At the 2025 Open Government Partnership (OGP) Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting in Manila, Philippines, our Dinita Putri highlighted Luminate’s commitment to advancing open, inclusive, and accountable governance during the High-Level Roundtable Discussion titled 'Leadership In Action: Ambition and Collaboration for Strategy 2023-2028'.
In her remarks, she emphasised Luminate’s role in:
- mainstreaming personal data protection frameworks;
- driving policy discussions on digital governance; and
- enhancing public engagement for more inclusive decision-making.
"Ultimately, we see ourselves as an ally in creating an environment where all sectors of society can share knowledge, align on priorities, and commit to a society where open, just, and fair government exist, and where technology serves people and public interest – not the other way around."
During the gathering, Luminate, together with Access Now, hosted two breakout sessions on digital transformation, AI, and its governance.
Shaping digital transformation: governance, inclusion, and accountability
The first session, moderated by DiploFoundation's Shita Laksmi, brought together voices across government, civil society, and advocacy groups to explore the future of responsible digitalisation and data governance.
AI & national digital transformation agendas
According to Wahyudi Djafar, Executive Director of ELSAM Indonesia, artificial intelligence is a key objective in Indonesia’s long-term digitalisation strategy. However, he warned that technological progress alone isn’t sufficient. Governments need to ensure that innovation is balanced with the protection of people’s rights. He highlighted concerns about super apps, which pose significant data protection challenges, and pointed out that legislative processes can take a long time to address these risks.
Data first or digital first?
Dini Maghfirra, Executive Director of Satu Data Indonesia, questioned the common assumption that digital transformation should begin with platform development. She argued that while many focus on building impressive platforms, the real priority should be data. Digital transformation, she stressed, isn’t about increasing the number of apps but about ensuring that data is well-structured, easily accessible, and can be integrated across systems.
Collaboration is key
Deputy Minister Abdulla Anees from the National Centre for Information and Technology in the Maldives emphasised the importance of collaboration in building a successful digital ecosystem. He noted that with the Fourth Industrial Revolution already underway, cooperation between governments, civil society, and the private sector is essential for a robust digital landscape.
Beyond connectivity: inclusive digitalisation
In the Philippines, high internet penetration has opened opportunities but challenges remain. Liza Garcia, Executive Director of the Foundation for Media Alternatives, pointed out that while high internet penetration has created opportunities, challenges still exist. She stressed that digital transformation should not stop at improving connectivity. The key question, she noted, is ensuring that these changes benefit the wider population. She highlighted the vital role of civil society in advocacy, digital literacy, and holding stakeholders accountable.
Addressing digital governance challenges
During the Q&A, panelists addressed pressing issues:
- Interoperability & data sharing: Maghfirra observed that many assume innovation simply means developing more apps. However, she argued that the absence of a proper regulatory framework for AI and data governance remains a major gap.
- Legal frameworks for AI: Garcia emphasised that emerging technologies can introduce new forms of discrimination and exclusion. She underscored the need for strong collaboration between civil society and government to mitigate these risks.
AI in public services: innovation, risks, and governance
Moderated by Dinita Putri, the second session brought together global perspectives from government, civil society, and digital rights advocates to discuss AI governance and its impact on public services.
Philippines: ready for the AI future?
Undersecretary Francesca Del Rosario from the Philippines’ Department of Budget and Management expressed confidence in the country’s ability to navigate the AI-driven future. She highlighted the government’s commitment to integrating AI into public systems while also prioritising capacity-building and safeguards to ensure responsible implementation.
Australia’s lessons on automated decision-making
Joanna Virtue, Assistant Secretary for Fraud Prevention and Anti-Corruption in Australia’s Attorney-General’s Department, shared key lessons from Australia’s experience with automated decision-making in social security services. She explained that AI was used to match tax and income data with welfare benefits, but ultimately, the system was found to be unlawful and negatively impacted many people.
Automated systems don’t always increase efficiency; they can lead to more complaints, internal reviews, and additional staff workload.
- AI decision-making missed vulnerable populations, raising serious concerns about fairness.
- Safeguards matter – Virtue stressed that AI should not disadvantage marginalised groups. She highlighted Australia’s AI safety standards and voluntary guidelines, which focus on transparency, accountability, and ensuring human oversight in AI-driven processes.
The role of civil society in AI governance
EngageMedia's Phet Sayo highlighted the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration as well as their existing project:
- AI governance requires continuous consultation with civil society, young people, and experts.
- No single organisation or government has all the solutions. Partnerships are essential.
- UNESCO’s AI Rapid Assessment Methodology (RAM) provides a framework for evaluating AI risks and governance gaps.
AI must serve the public interest
During the Q&A, Undersecretary Francesca Del Rosario reinforced the importance of human oversight in AI decision-making. She stressed that human involvement must always be central to any AI-based solution.
As governments increasingly adopt AI, she noted, ensuring transparency, accountability, and fairness must remain at the heart of its use in public services.
Looking ahead
As digital transformation accelerates, Luminate remains committed to fostering open, inclusive, and rights-based digital governance. The conversation at OGP 2025 was just the beginning.