DIGITAL TWINS OF GOVERNMENT PROCESSES AS AN INNOVATIVE METHOD OF COMBATING CORRUPTION

Abstract. The article explores the potential of Digital Twin technology as an innovative tool for preventing and combating corruption in the public sector. The author analyses the concept of digital twins, their application for detecting anomalies in administrative processes, modelling corruption risks, and ensuring transparency of decision-making. Special attention is paid to international experience and the prospects for implementing this technology in Russia. The study concludes that digital twins can significantly increase the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures and strengthen national economic security.

Keywords: digital twin, digitalisation, corruption prevention, public administration, artificial intelligence, transparency, economic security, e-government.

In the context of the digital transformation of the economy and public administration, increasing attention is being paid to the search for new, technology-driven methods of combating corruption. Traditional legal and organisational tools, despite their importance, often prove insufficiently effective in the fight against sophisticated corrupt schemes. One of the promising innovative approaches is the introduction of Digital Twin technology into the sphere of public administration. This method makes it possible to create virtual copies of real administrative processes, opening up new opportunities for monitoring, analysing, and preventing corruption risks. The aim of the article is to examine the potential of digital twins as a modern method for enhancing economic security and reducing corruption levels.

A digital twin is a virtual model of a real object, process, or system that reflects in real time the state and behaviour of its physical counterpart. In the context of public administration, a digital twin can cover the entire cycle of public service delivery — from application submission to decision-making and performance monitoring.

Unlike traditional information systems, a digital twin does not merely record data but also allows modelling various development scenarios, identifying deviations from normative procedures, and predicting the emergence of corruption risks. The technology relies on big data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, ensuring high accuracy and speed of analysis.

The implementation of digital twins opens up several key directions in the fight against corruption:

• Detection of anomalies and deviations. The system automatically compares the actual course of a process with the reference model and signals any deviations (for example, unjustified acceleration or slowdown in case processing, changes in the composition of participants).
• Modelling corruption scenarios. The digital twin allows “stress tests” of government procedures to be conducted by simulating attempts at manipulation and assessing system vulnerabilities.
• Transparency and accountability. All actions of officials are recorded in the digital environment, significantly reducing opportunities to conceal traces of corrupt transactions.
• Risk forecasting. Based on historical data and system behaviour, artificial intelligence can predict the likelihood of corrupt practices in specific bodies or for particular types of services.

The main advantage of digital twins is the shift from reactive to proactive anti-corruption efforts. Instead of investigating crimes already committed, the system allows them to be prevented at the planning and preparation stage. In addition, the method contributes to increasing public trust in state institutions by demonstrating the transparency of processes.

However, the implementation of the technology faces several serious barriers. These include high financial costs for creating and maintaining digital twins, the need to ensure cybersecurity, and a shortage of qualified specialists. An important ethical issue also remains — the protection of personal data and the prevention of excessive control over citizens and officials.

The experience of Singapore, Estonia, and South Korea shows that the introduction of digital twins in the public sector can significantly reduce corruption risks and improve governance efficiency. In Russia, this technology is still at the pilot project stage; however, work is already underway to create digital twins of individual industries (healthcare, transport, urban planning). A promising direction is the integration of digital twins with the existing “Electronic Government” and “Gosuslugi” systems.

ConclusionDigital twins of government processes represent an innovative and highly effective method of combating corruption, consistent with current trends in the digital economy. The technology not only allows the detection and prevention of corrupt practices but also significantly enhances the state’s economic security by increasing the transparency and accountability of management decisions. Successful implementation of the method requires a comprehensive approach that includes legal regulation, investment in infrastructure, and the formation of an appropriate ethical culture within public authorities.