When the poet Petrarch was locked down in a pandemic in 14th century Italy, he lamented the “fearful and universal solitude over the whole earth”. At least modern-day poets can take some solace in their digital connections with others; they can even tweet their stanzas. Thanks to the internet, billions of people have been able to maintain at least a semblance of social connection in an otherwise transformed world.
But it would be wrong to imagine that this boon is universal. It is estimated that as many as 3bn people living in developing countries may still be unconnected by 2023. Even in developed countries, populations face a “digital divide” stretching back to the 1990s. The difference today is that an ever-growing body of essential services are digital by default. Those without internet access risk missing out not just on key resources during the pandemic, but on the long-term benefits of innovation. It is unacceptable for technical and societal constraints to create an analogue underclass.
The original conception of the digital divide was a binary distinction between the haves and have-nots. But internet access is better viewed as a spectrum. Those living in rural areas may have some signal, but it can be intermittent or slow enough that data-intensive services such as video streaming are out of the question. In countries where the cost of internet access is high, those on lower incomes may be limited to using publicly provided Wi-Fi. Research in the UK last year found both age and level of education had an impact on internet use.
New digital networks have increasingly been replacing old physical infrastructure as ever more services migrate online. Between 2012 and 2019, bank and building society branches in the UK alone fell by almost 3,000, or 22 per cent. Such trends are likely to accelerate post-pandemic, as companies seek to slash overheads. The apparent success of working from home and distance learning during the lockdown will permanently boost their popularity. That is to say nothing of how online tools facilitate long-distance communications and freedom of speech.
Some countries, such as Estonia, have long championed digital sovereignty, arguing that the ability to operate online is an essential part of modern life. Post-pandemic, this understanding should be more widely spread. But this will depend on upgrading digital infrastructure so that it serves all citizens. The rollout of 5G networks is vital to support faster connectivity and innovative new systems, such as the Internet of Things. Governments should ensure they expand digital access to those who only make limited use of basic services. That may require them to review pricing structures that currently exclude the most vulnerable, who could gain the most from access to digital resources.
Moreover, digital literacy must be improved to unlock the full uses of the internet for all. Schools have a big role, but every student will need access to a computer. More offline training, perhaps provided through spaces such as libraries, would also be valuable. These services should be treated as an essential public good, not a profitmaking opportunity for big tech companies.
Few inventions have changed society as radically or as rapidly as the internet. As newer technologies such as smart city networks and virtual reality become increasingly ubiquitous, the digital transformation of our lives will be only more marked. Early cyber-idealists imagined the internet as an astonishingly powerful tool to help advance humanity, collectively. That ambition should not be abandoned.
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May 22, 2020 at 04:05PM
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Time to close the digital divide - Financial Times
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