In an increasingly digitized world, infrastructure is no longer limited to roads, ports, and power lines. Digital systems have become just as critical to the functioning of modern economies and societies. Traditionally, conversations around Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) have focused on government-backed systems like national ID programs, interoperable payment networks, and secure data exchanges.
However, a broader category—Publicly Available Digital Infrastructure (PADI)—is rapidly gaining attention. PADI includes digital tools and services that are publicly accessible and foundational to daily life, regardless of who owns or controls them. Importantly, this includes digital goods developed by foreign and for-profit entities, such as Google Maps, WhatsApp, Amazon Web Services (AWS), GitHub, and many others.
This article explores the concept of PADI, its significance, the benefits and risks of relying on privately controlled platforms, and how governments and innovators in emerging economies can navigate this complex terrain.
What Is PADI?
PADI refers to digital platforms, services, and infrastructures that are widely accessible and essential for societal or economic activity, even when they are not state-owned or open-source. Unlike DPI, which is usually developed with public funding and governance oversight, PADI encompasses systems created and maintained by corporations or non-state actors.
These platforms are ubiquitous and often serve as de facto infrastructure. For example:
- Google Maps is the default mapping layer for countless apps in transportation, delivery, and emergency services.
- AWS powers startups, public-sector platforms, and critical national applications.
- WhatsApp is a primary communication tool in many low- and middle-income countries, often even more so than email.
These systems operate at massive scale, enabling everything from local entrepreneurship to global logistics.
The Utility of Private and Foreign Platforms
For-profit and foreign digital goods have made vast contributions to digital transformation efforts globally. Their value lies in their efficiency, scalability, and affordability—especially when compared to the cost and time required to build equivalents from scratch.
Startups, non-profits, and even governments often use platforms like Google Cloud or GitHub to build and deploy services. These tools help to reduce barriers to entry, especially in regions where public infrastructure is still catching up. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, governments used Google Sheets to track cases, Zoom for public education, and YouTube to distribute health information.
In many ways, these tools function like utilities: always available, widely used, and deeply embedded into critical systems.
The Risks of Dependence
Despite the immense utility of PADI services from for-profit and foreign actors, relying too heavily on them presents significant risks, particularly for countries with limited regulatory leverage over global tech giants.
First, there is the issue of digital sovereignty. Critical public data may be stored in foreign jurisdictions, subject to other countries’ laws. This creates vulnerabilities for governments trying to protect national interests or citizen data.
Second, access to these platforms is not guaranteed. Companies can change their terms of service, impose fees, restrict usage, or discontinue features without consultation. For example, Google Maps significantly increased its API pricing in 2018, forcing many small developers and startups to scale back their use or abandon projects entirely.
Third, the business models of many PADI services are built on data extraction. Tools that are "free" often monetize users through advertising or surveillance-based algorithms, raising ethical and privacy concerns. In this context, citizens become products rather than beneficiaries.
Strategic Implications for Policymakers
For governments and ecosystem builders, it is not enough to simply use these platforms. A strategic framework is necessary to engage with PADI proactively—one that blends the strengths of public and private infrastructures while safeguarding national interests.
Recognize Critical Dependencies: Policymakers need to assess which foreign-owned platforms are critical to public and economic systems. This includes evaluating their role in transportation, healthcare, education, communications, and governance.
Develop Redundancy Plans: Where feasible, countries should invest in or support open-source alternatives. For example, OpenStreetMap can serve as a local substitute for Google Maps. Similarly, sovereign cloud initiatives can reduce dependence on foreign cloud providers.
Engage with Global Platforms on Equitable Terms: Rather than being passive consumers, governments should negotiate with major tech companies to ensure fair access, transparent data practices, and local capacity development.
Support Domestic Infrastructure Builders: Public funding, regulatory incentives, and technical support can help local startups build interoperable alternatives that complement or compete with foreign PADI services.
Conclusion
PADI is the invisible scaffolding of today’s digital society—pervasive, indispensable, and often outside the direct control of governments. For countries across the Global South, these platforms offer a pathway to leapfrog into the digital age. Yet, this opportunity must be balanced with strategic governance, data sovereignty, and infrastructure resilience.
Rather than rejecting PADI provided by foreign or for-profit entities, the goal should be to govern its use wisely—ensuring that accessibility and innovation are preserved, while autonomy and equity are strengthened.
