Description: By the end of 2019, more than half of the world’s population will be online. Access to the Internet – in particular mobile connectivity – continues to increase. Digital technologies have become ubiquitous in our everyday lives, as have discussions about how it drives societal developments. To be digitally included has become a basic requirement for societal participation and thus also for the expansion of social justice and societal inclusion. However, internet access alone is not enough to foster digital inclusion; digital inclusion requires more than Internet penetration. Factors such as digital literacy and digital skills, the motivations for going online and digital rights must also be addressed.
Connecting the other half of the global population means confronting the myriad issues that come to light when assessing digital inclusion worldwide. Numerous experts, institutions and initiatives are actively highlighting Internet penetration statistics, recording human rights abuses online and researching digital skills. Research about the Internet is at heart of how we assess global problems and find specific solutions. The session will look at different approaches for capturing and measuring the trends and issues shaping the future of digital inclusion, as well as identifying avenues and intersections for closer collaboration between experts and institutions.
Digital inclusion encompasses a broad range of issues that are also central to many of the discussions surrounding Internet Governance. How can we create fair and affordable Internet access for everyone? How can we equip people with the necessary impetus and skills to fully embrace the potential of the Internet to change their lives for the better? Which human rights need to be strengthened, as a necessary precursor for widespread digital inclusion? The variety of issues is probably too multifaceted for a one size fits all approach to capturing digital inclusion. Nonetheless, what aspects are missing, and how can various initiatives collaborate more closely?
Agenda
In the first part of the session, we invite experts and institutions active in measuring digital inclusion, focusing either on a specific aspect or a specific method, to briefly present their approach to the participants. The goal is to involve the audience from the very beginning: After the initial presentations, participants will be asked to reflect on the statements made by the panelists, and to share their views and ideas on any aspects missing from existing approaches. The second part of the session focuses on identifying areas for collaboration between various institutions and experts working on measuring digital inclusion. Here, the audience is also invited to take part in the exercise to further encourage new avenues for collaboration.
Expected Outcomes: The session aims to collect different approaches for measuring digital inclusion. In so doing, panelists and participants will be encouraged to assess gaps in the current research and praxis on the issue. The goal of the discussion is also to identify possible areas for collaboration between various experts and institutions in order to interconnect different approaches and methods already in use.
