Inside the digital society
David Souter writes a weekly column for APC, looking at different aspects of the information society, development and rights. David’s pieces take a fresh look at many of the issues that concern APC and its members, with the aim of provoking discussion and debate. Issues covered include internet governance and sustainable development, human rights and the environment, policy, practice and the use of ICTs by individuals and communities.
New applications like ChatGPT based on AI and large language models are likely to be transformative, a step change in technology like the internet was 30 years ago, but much faster. The technology is now out of the bag and can't be uninvented, and we should move swiftly to figure out its implications, deployment and governance.
Our columnist examines the discussions at UNESCO's recent conference on platform accountability and the issues that need to be addressed in moving forward.
Digitalisation by default excludes rather than includes people and requires analogue inclusion as well. It requires policy approaches that understand the causes of broader inequality in general, reflect the lived experiences of those excluded and address “digital” divides.
The UN Secretary-General’s proposal for a Global Digital Compact responds to the evolution of the digital environment since WSIS. Our columnist offers some thoughts on the Compact's value, challenges and how to improve its chances of better outcomes.
Our columnist writes about how advocates for children’s rights online can build leverage in the digital community and in the United Nations. This post is derived from a presentation at the 2022 conference of The Association of Internet Researchers, and is co-published with the LSE Media and Communications blog.
Our columnist reflects on what has happened since the first World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), how we might review the past and look forward in hope and trepidation at the future as we approach its 20-year review in 2025.
Our columnist recalls how bleak Africa’s communications landscape was a generation ago, what the "communications revolution" has wrought and what we should try to learn from the past.
How is e-government progressing after COVID? What should we be looking out to understand and measure?
Our columnist reflects on how digitalisation has transformed, or at least changed the parameters, of our lives since the 1950s and where ‘digital transformation’ could head next.
Two years ago, the assumption was that the pandemic and ensuing lockdowns would have lasting impacts on digitalisation – that they would accelerate the process by which offline turned to online, increase its pace and shift the way we do things towards digital alternatives. But has this happened as much as was expected?
Association for Progressive Communications (APC) 2022
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