Perceptions of digital ethics and AI use on public policy: Greek public sector and tax administration practices

Abstract

There is no doubt that artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithms will revolutionize healthcare, human resources, policing, education, and other public services. Algorithms are already used in numerous social service contexts. Regardless of the application domain, the power for positive change that AI provides simultaneously holds the potential for negative impacts on society.  How does public opinion in Greece deal with the above issues and to what extent does it accept their use to improve transparency, efficiency and good governance in the Public Administration and Tax Administration? This paper analyzes the results of a large nationality sample of 965 individuals who were contacted during a Post Doc Research Project. This research has allowed us to capture a wide range of opinions and explore public perceptions of digital ethics and AI use on public policy. The survey is focused on issues of implementation of new technologies and AI in the Greek Public Administration and Tax Administration. Through its results, it is anticipated to be a vital resource for those in Government, Tax Administration, the wider public sector civil society and academia seeking to understand public attitudes towards data and AI.

JEL classification: O30, K34

Keywords: Public administration, tax administration, digital ethics, AI