The effects of International City Network membership: Urban AI policies and the Cities Coalition for Digital Rights

Cities worldwide are participating in International City Networks (ICNs) to build capacities and develop responses to artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital transformation, yet the role of ICNs in AI governance remains understudied. Addressing this gap, this article conducts a case study of the Cities Coalition for Digital Rights (CCDR), an ICN advocating for a human rights-based approach to urban digitalization. It asks: How does CCDR membership affect cities’ AI policies? AI is increasingly integrated into urban governance, with cities adopting AI-driven applications to enhance efficiency and sustainability. At the same time, AI raises significant concerns regarding the protection of citizens’ rights, data privacy, equity, transparency, and accountability, requiring regulatory frameworks that define the conditions under which such applications are utilized. Local approaches vary considerably in the extent to which cities adopt application-oriented policies, focused on the use of AI systems, and regulatory policies, which establish governance frameworks and normative principles. This article argues that trans-local interactions within ICNs affect local policy through processes of social learning, enhancing implementation capacities and informing policy preferences. Drawing on data from the Atlas of Urban AI, the article compares 161 AI initiatives from 15 CCDR member cities and 15 non-members. It classifies cities’ approaches in application-oriented and regulatory policies and assesses alignment with CCDR principles. The findings show that CCDR member cities adopt a higher number of AI initiatives and demonstrate greater regulatory depth, with a stronger emphasis on regulatory policies reflecting rights-based, ethical governance, highlighting the active role of ICNs in global AI governance.