Beyond Access: Rethinking Digital Power in Data-Driven Industrial Economies for Sustainable Development

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This paper critically examines the evolving nature of inequality in data-driven industrial economies by moving beyond traditional access-based interpretations of the digital divide toward a more comprehensive concept of digital power. While digital transformation has expanded connectivity and participation, the benefits remain unevenly distributed due to asymmetries in data ownership, algorithmic governance, platform control, and value capture. Drawing on recent literature, the study argues that inequality is increasingly shaped by the capacity to control and leverage digital systems rather than merely access them. It introduces a conceptual perspective that highlights how industrial data systems generate “participation without power,” particularly affecting workers, SMEs, and developing economies. The paper further explores implications for Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 9 and SDG 10, demonstrating how concentrated digital power may hinder inclusive industrialisation and exacerbate global inequalities. Policy recommendations emphasise the need for governance frameworks that prioritise equity, accountability, and inclusive distribution of value.

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