Abstract: The right to digital development, rooted in the fundamental right to development, emerges in response to the transformations of our era and serves as a catalyst for Chinese modernization. Building upon the traditional right to development, the right to digital development aims to meet the people’s aspirations for a better life in the context of digital development. By integrating a technological perspective, this concept advances the theoretical evolution of the right to development in line with contemporary realities. In terms of generation logic, the right to digital development is grounded in policies supporting Chinese modernization, guided by the development of new quality productive forces, and oriented toward addressing the people’s aspirations for a better life and society’s sustainable digital transformation. Ultimately, this framework constructs a normative structure encompassing the right to digital development opportunity, the right to digital development condition, and the right to digital development realization as a cohesive whole. From a value-oriented perspective, the right to digital development adheres to a people-centered philosophy of development, grounded in practical considerations. It addresses the digital divide as a focal point, gradually mitigating digital exclusion and circumventing digital malpractices, thereby fostering digital sharing. Integrating the right to digital development into the conceptual framework of the right to development can complete the institutional construction of digital development through the theoretical architecture of “condition-opportunity-realization.” This integration helps to better safeguard people’s rights and interests in digital development and promotes the free and comprehensive development of individuals.

 

Keywords: right to digital development · digital human rights · Chinese modernization · new quality productive forces · digital development