Digital Divide: Access and Development Biases

Digital Divide and Development Biases

• The adaptation of the Internet and other ICT's has not been uniform throughout the world
• In 2000, a significant gap existed in internet access and usage between different groups
• From 2000 to 2008, internet penetration increased worldwide, but the digital divide remained
• In 2008, global internet penetration was only about one-fifth of the world's population
• By 2009, internet penetration had reached over 60% in most developed countries
• From 2000 to 2018, internet penetration in Africa grew by 10,000%
• In 2018, internet penetration reached about 90% in Europe and North America, while Africa lagged at 36%
• From 2000 to the present, the digital divide, measured by access, has been shrinking

Defining the Digital Divide

• It refers to disparities in information society penetration in terms of access and use of ICT
• Encompasses the gap separating those who can access the information society from those unable to

Societal Factors Influencing the Digital Divide

• Gaps in education, like illiteracy, contribute
• Disability is a factor
• Location, whether rural or urban, plays a role
• Gender is a disparity
• Race influences the digital divide
• Income level is a factor

The Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development

• The OECD is an international organization of 34 countries
• OECD aims to promote economic progress and word trade
• It was founded in 1961
• Focuses on democracy and market economy
• Acts as a platform for policy exchange
• Coordinates domestic and international policies
• The OECD plays a crucial role in shaping economic policies and promoting sustainable development worldwide

Global Internet Penetration Statistics

• 54.4% of the world population has internet access
• Asia has the highest internet penetration at 55.1%
• Africa has the lowest internet penetration at 36.1%
• Internet penetration has grown significantly worldwide, increasing by 1086% from 2000 to 2018
• Population is at 1.28 billion people
• Internet Users at 453.3 million
• Penetration at 35.2%
• Growth was at 9942% from 2000 to 2017

Developer Biases, Assumptions, and Values

• Implicit biases are relevant
• Data-driven biases are relevant
• Market-driven biases are relevant
• Diversity in development is relevant
• Education software demonstrates these biases
• Microsoft Chatbot demonstrates these biases
• Google's Image Tagging System demonstrates these biases
• Exclusion and Marginalization are consequences of these biases
• Perpetuation of Inequality is a consequence of these biases
• Ethical Concerns are consequences of these biases

Interactive Media and Mass Self-Communication

• The World Wide Web offers a means of interactive communication since "web 2.0" which started around the 2000s and made 'posting' content easier
• The boundaries between mass media communication and all other forms of communication are blurring
• It's the communication fabric of our lives, used for work, personal connection, information, entertainment, public services, politics, and regional content
• Enables access to mass media and digitized culture or information
• Television has been transformed as receptions become individualized through streaming services

Internet Governance Layers

• Infrastructure
• Protocols
• Application
• Content

Net Neutrality

• Emphasizes equality in internet data handling and ensures no preferential treatment for specific content types
• Controversies highlighted, including discussions on prioritization under IPv6 and challenges in the U.S, particularly during the Trump administration

Social Spaces on the Web

• Platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram dominated usage
• Statistics for 2015 and 2016 show a gradual increase in social media activity
• For example, Facebook grew from 22% (11.8 billion users) in 2015 to 25% (14 million users) in 2016
• Income disparities affect internet penetration rates significantly

Challenges and Observations

• High data costs hinder internet access for low-income users in South Africa
• Privacy concerns in online communication arise due to metadata collection by authorities and private entities

ICT for Peace and Warfare

• ICT refers to the use of information and communication technologies in conflict prevention, management, and resolution, as well as in military operations warfare

Peace Building Supported by ICT'S

• ICT can support peace building by helping people communicate, access information, and collaborate on peace initiatives

How ICT Can Support Peacebuilding

• Facilitates communication, helping people share opinions, needs, and information about conflicts and peace
• Enables collaboration, allowing individuals to work together on peace initiatives and implement best practices
• Aids decision making, assisting policymakers and organizations in making more informed choices
• Defends human rights and addresses inequality and discrimination
• Resolves conflicts using tools for network analysis and sentimental analysis
• Builds awareness and conflicts and peace, and mobilize people to get involved politically

Examples of ICT-Supported Peacebuilding

• Info Share, an ongoing experiment that uses ICT to help stakeholders work together on peacebuilding initiatives
• Social Media, a platform where people can share their opinions and needs and help promote

Building Explicit Bias Into a System

• Explicit bias can be built into systems when people with conscious prejudices or beliefs make decisions that affect others
• Can lead to discriminatory systems and practices that perpetuate health disparities and other inequalities

Examples of Explicit Biases Include

• A teacher giving lower expectations to a student from an indigenous group
• A teacher matching a student’s online profile picture with their “ethnic” name
• A teacher questioning a student’s parent’s priorities based on their home environment

Reducing Explicit Bias

• Promoting respect for all groups in homes, schools, and the media
• Emphasizing a common group identity
• Interacting with people from different groups
• Engaging in discussion in safe environments
• Practicing mindfulness and loving kindness

Destructive ICT's

• Destructive ICT refers to the use of information and communication technologies in ways that are harmful, disrupt systems, or negatively impact individuals, organizations, or society
• While ICT is generally associated with enabling and efficiency, its misuse or unintended consequences can have destructive effects

Two Main Areas

• Information Warfare evolves using ICTs to spread misinformation and propaganda for political gain, manipulating public opinion and potentially influencing elections, considered a form of warfare that aims to cause harm without directly killing people

Autonomous Weapon Systems

• Autonomous Weapon Systems are weapons that can operate independently, making decisions and taking actions without human intervention
• Highlights ethical concerns surrounding AWS, potential for misuse, and dangers of giving machines the power to decide who to kill

Examples Include

• Cybercrime and hacking
• Disinformation and misinformation
• Digital addiction and mental health issues
• Privacy violations
• Job displacement
• Environment impact
• Cyberwarfare

Conclusion

• Micro-electronics-based communication tech and new apps has accelerated the transformation of our lives in a lot of ways
• Networks have become the predominant domain of activity for organizations
• Globalization has intensified and diversified, while communication technologies have constructed reality in a fundamental way

This lesson discusses the disparities in internet and ICT access worldwide, highlighting the digital divide between developed and developing regions. It examines the growth of internet penetration from 2000 to the present, focusing on the gaps that persist despite overall increases in access. The digital divide refers to the gap separating those who can access the information society from those who cannot.