The Concept of a «Digital Tool of Public Administration»

The relevance of issues related to the legal regulation of digital tools in public administration is driven, on the one hand, by the diversity of cross-sectoral norms that constitute their legal content, and on the other, by the need to develop unified approaches to the legal regulation of management processes based on digital technologies. The article presents the authors’ perspective on the essence of the term «digital tools of public administration». It examines the formalization of such tools within legal norms and existing technical regulation standards. The study identifies the fundamental distinctions between digital tools and information systems based on key criteria: legal regulation, implementation technologies, and purposes of use. A definition of «digital tools of public administration» is proposed: modern technological solutions based on digital content, aimed at transforming the processes of making and implementing public administrative decisions, improving the efficiency of public services, and optimizing interaction with citizens. Digital tools function as a form of public administration built upon the synergistic interaction of digital technologies and information resources to achieve public interests. Within the broader transformation of governance, digital tools encompass a set of new technologies (big data, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, among others) used to enhance the efficiency of public authorities. They take the form of technological solutions that automate routine bureaucratic procedures, increase the speed and transparency of public decision-making, and improve the interaction between government bodies, citizens, and organizations through digital platforms. The consolidation of the concept «digital tools of public administration» requires a comprehensive, systemic approach to their legal regulation. In the context of the proposed Digital Code of the Russian Federation, the term «digital tool» should become a fundamental legal category