DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND SECURITY CHALLENGES FOR SMART SUSTAINABLE AND CREATIVE CITIES

Digital transformation has become one of the central instruments for improving urban services, sustainability, resilience and citizen participation. However, the transition from conventional urban management to smart sustainable and creative cities is not only a technological process. It is also a governance challenge that requires legal safeguards, interoperable data architectures, cybersecurity, privacy protection, inclusive participation, climate-sensitive planning and the responsible use of cultural resources. This article develops an integrated analytical framework for the governance of smart sustainable and creative cities. It synthesizes United Nations approaches to sustainable urban development, digital transformation and people-centred smart cities, and translates them into practical institutional and policy measures for cities seeking to modernize without deepening inequality or data-related vulnerabilities.