Comparative Analysis of Models of the Digitalization of Public Oversight: Institutional Foundations and Interaction within Civil Society

The subject of this study is public oversight under the conditions of digitalization, examined from a comparative perspective. The article presents a comparative analysis of the institutional foundations, principles, forms, and mechanisms that define the functioning of public oversight models. Particular attention is given to the institutionalization of digital tools for civic monitoring, the legal and organizational frameworks of their operation, and the nature of interactions between civil society institutions and state structures. The study explores differences in the levels of transparency, openness, and accountability of public authorities that arise from the implementation of electronic platforms, open data mechanisms, digital services for civic initiatives, and other innovative instruments. A special focus is placed on the characteristics of digitalization models implemented in partnership-based, observational, expert-analytical, and participatory formats. The methodological framework of the research integrates comparative and institutional analysis, along with the synthesis of theories of digital governance, civil society, and the sociology of social institutions. The analysis encompasses both macro- and meso-level comparisons of national and transnational models, including empirical evaluation of digital tools’ effectiveness, legal and regulatory assessments, and the examination of specific mechanisms of civic participation. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the comparative institutional analysis of public oversight digitalization, which reveals the distinctive features of integrating digital platforms into various models of civic monitoring. A new contribution is made by identifying the correlation between the institutionalization characteristics—ranging from the degree of independence and procedural openness to the legal protection of oversight initiators—and the effectiveness of public interaction with government bodies. The obtained results specify the role of digital innovations in transforming traditional forms and shaping new forms of civic oversight, as well as justify the need for balance between technological advancement, normative support, and encouragement of public initiatives. Structured criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of digital models are proposed, along with the identification of key risks associated with the digital divide, privacy threats, and potential manipulation in the digital environment. The study emphasizes the importance of international exchange of practices and standards for ensuring the efficiency of digital public oversight mechanisms at both institutional and intergovernmental levels.