Bridging the Center-Periphery Divide: Human Rights and Public Policy in AI-Driven Learning Societies

Abstract

The present study examines the effectiveness of the public policy in the context of digitally unequal environments and its impact on human rights protection in the framework of the Center-Periphery Theory and the role of AI-driven learning societies. AI's swift penetration into the field of education, governance, and public administration has raised several issues and concerns, such as digital inequality, algorithmic bias, accessibility, and social exclusion, especially in developing societies where technological resources are not equally available across various regions. This study aims to analyze the relationships between AI Accessibility, Digital Inequality, AI Governance, Public Policy Effectiveness, Human Rights Protection, and the moderating effect of an Inclusive AI-Driven Learning Society. This study was quantitative with a cross-sectional research design engaged with structured questionnaires given to digitally active respondents, such as students, teachers, policy makers, and researchers. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the data in SPSS and SmartPLS to test the hypotheses presented and investigate direct relationships and moderating relationships. The results showed that AI Accessibility (β = 0.379, p = 0.000) and Digital Inequality (β = 0.385, p = 0.000) had a significant relationship with Public Policy Effectiveness, and Public Policy Effectiveness had a strong relationship with Human Rights Protection (β = 0.436, p = 0.000). The moderation effect of Inclusive AI-Driven Learning Society, however, was not statistically significant (β = -0.020 and p = 0.339). On the theoretical side, the study extends the Center-Periphery Theory to the realm of AI governance studies, while on the practical side, it draws attention to the need for inclusive policy frameworks, digital accessibility, and ethical governance of AI in the context of socially sustainable digital transformation and protection of human rights in AI-informed societies.