Ashley Thomas Lenihan

London School of Economics and Political Science

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About

Dr. Ashley Thomas Lenihan is a leading scholar at the intersection of digital society, evidence-based policy, and the social implications of emerging technologies. Her work critically examines how digitization—from the World Wide Web and social media to artificial intelligence and robotics—reshapes governance, everyday life, and the very foundations of policymaking. In her highly cited 2021 paper, "Social dimensions of evidence-based policy in a digital society" (21 citations), Lenihan demonstrates how the proliferation of online technologies and AI presents profound challenges for contemporary societies, arguing that effective policy must account for the complex social dynamics of a connected world. Her research bridges web science, public policy, and sociology, offering vital frameworks for understanding how digital transformation affects democratic processes, social equity, and institutional trust. Lenihan’s work is essential reading for students and researchers navigating the ethical and practical dilemmas of governing in an age of ubiquitous data, automation, and networked publics.