Historical Transformation of the Concept of “Public Interest” and Its Transition from “Traditional Collective Interest” to “Data-Driven Interest”

Abstract

The concept of “public interest,” as one of the foundational concepts in political philosophy and public law, has undergone significant transformation throughout history under the influence of social, institutional, and technological developments. This article aims to analyze the historical evolution of this concept from “traditional collective interest” to “data-driven interest” and to explain the implications of this transition in the era of the digital economy. Using an analytical–descriptive approach based on documentary research, the study first examines the social and normative foundations of public interest in traditional societies and subsequently analyzes the role of modernity, bureaucracy, and particularly information and data technologies in redefining this concept. The findings indicate that in traditional societies, public interest was primarily defined on the basis of collective identity, tradition, and political authority, whereas in the contemporary era, data, algorithms, and evidence-based decision-making have become the principal elements in identifying and realizing public interest. This transformation has enhanced efficiency, precision, and predictability in public policymaking; however, it has simultaneously generated challenges such as the concentration of data power, threats to privacy, and algorithmic discrimination. Consequently, the article emphasizes the necessity of integrating social legitimacy and human values with technological capacities and proposes that the realization of public interest in the data-driven era requires the design of institutional and ethical mechanisms compatible with this transformation.