IGF 2021 WS #248 Framing meaningful access for inclusive digital policy

In 2019, the world reached the 50% mark, when half of the world’s population were internet users (ITU Facts and Figures, 2020). In the context of a global pandemic, the range of daily activities that are done exclusively online has increased for many, but half of the world’s population has been deprived of access to basic services like education, health, or civic participation. Even among those who can afford to use the Internet, many do it only through mobile phones with low quality access. The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on existing and growing inequalities around the world, which makes the role of the Internet for social economic development even more relevant. Public policies aimed at reducing digital divide today have been mainly focused on connectivity issues. Beyond the lack of infrastructure, there is a broad research agenda warning about the new forms of exclusion emerging from a world mediated by the massive adoption and use of Information and Communication Technologies. In this sense, the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) has proposed the concept of meaningful connectivity as foundational to a digital experience focused on quality of access for everyone going far beyond the binary online or offline, establishing meaningful connectivity as when we can use the internet every day through an appropriate device with enough data and a fast connection. The concept calls for this target to drive decisions that influence and support universal access policy. In this respect, traditional public policies models for digital inclusion have not only failed to fulfill the purpose of universalization but also have not been conceived to mitigate problems related to discrimination (e.g. algorthimic and data discrimation, online desinformation), local content promotion, internet user agency and autonomy, among others. We advocate that digital policies must be centered on the promotion and protection of human rights, the empowerment of local communities and the autonomy of every individual, thus fostering social and economic inclusion. Recently IGF has established the new Policy Network on Meaningful Access (PNMA) which is leading a broad discussion about the challenges of “providing access to the Internet to make a meaningful contribution to improving people’s lives locally, for ‎strengthening national economies, and more broadly to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals ‎‎(SDGs)” (PNMA, 2021). The workshop aims at contributing to this ongoing dialogue by exploring the multiple dimensions that must be considered when framing policies to support meaningful access for all. In this sense, we plan to explore how the recent discussions around the concept of meaningful access have addressed the various concerns related to digital exclusion and inequalities associated with online access. These concerns have been expressed by governments, academics, civil society and internet companies, as they work to expand access and connectivity at the global level. Secondly, we expect to explore some successful initiatives to bring up a broader understanding of meaningful access and its importance to frame digital inclusion public policy. Thirdly, we hope to promote a dialogue on the possible relations between the different aspects and outcomes of local experience to the ongoing dialogue on the concept of meaningful access. Finally, we expect to contribute to the important work of the newly established PNMA, in its efforts to improve people’s lives, making use of new technologies to foster social development and enabling environments to promote more inclusive, resilient and sustainable societies.