Architecting Trust: The Dual-Edged Sword of AI-Powered Civic Engagement Platforms (Published)
The integration of artificial intelligence into civic engagement platforms represents a transformative opportunity for democratic participation while simultaneously posing significant information integrity challenges. This article examines the architectural principles that determine both the efficacy and safety of AI-enabled civic technologies. Drawing on comparative analyses of enterprise and community implementations, the discussion illuminates how technical design choices directly influence inclusive decision-making, resource allocation, and emergency response coordination at the community level. The potential benefits of AI-assisted civic systems must be weighed against substantive risks including algorithmic amplification of polarizing content, introduction of summarization biases, and vulnerability to information manipulation. Through evaluation of content provenance mechanisms, transparency frameworks, and anti-manipulation features, the article establishes critical safeguards necessary for maintaining information integrity within these systems. The findings suggest that responsible AI architecture represents the decisive factor in whether such platforms ultimately strengthen or undermine civic participation, with implications for how local governance bodies implement and regulate these emerging technologies. The tension between enhanced engagement and information security emerges not as an insurmountable contradiction but rather as a design challenge requiring deliberate technical and governance solutions.
Keywords: AI governance, Civic technology, algorithmic trust, community engagement, information integrity