Abstract

The rapid digitalization of governance systems, urban infrastructure, and artificial intelligence deployment presents both opportunities and risks for sustainable development. This study examines the sustainability implications of digital transformation initiatives, focusing on three critical areas: data inequality, energy consumption of digital infrastructure, and the exclusion of vulnerable populations. Through a systematic literature review and qualitative analysis of 127 peer-reviewed articles published between 2013-2024, we identified significant sustainability risks that emerge from digitalization efforts. Our findings reveal that while digital technologies offer potential environmental benefits through efficiency gains, they simultaneously create new forms of inequality and resource consumption patterns that may undermine long-term sustainability goals. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on digital sustainability by providing a comprehensive risk assessment framework and highlighting the need for inclusive, energy-conscious approaches to digital transformation.