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.

Inside the Information Society: Breaking the news
Inside the Information Society: Breaking the news 16 October 2018 David Souter

Last time I wrote about the (unexpected) resilience of the book in digital times. Far from dying out, book sales are currently reviving. But what about those other icons of the print age, newspapers? What’s happening to them, and does it matter?

Inside the Information Society: What about books?
Inside the Information Society: What about books? 03 October 2018 David Souter

Twenty years ago, as the internet took off, a lot of people thought the days of books were numbered. 

Inside the Information Society: Naming the Information Society
Inside the Information Society: Naming the Information Society 25 September 2018 David Souter

Some thoughts this week on some of the names we've given phenomena in the world of ICTs - and whether what we mean by the biggest term of all (the 'Information Society') is changing or should change.

Inside the Information Society: Back to the blog. Four starting points to think about the future
Inside the Information Society: Back to the blog. Four starting points to think about the future 17 September 2018 David Souter

What has changed since the early days of the internet? David Souter returns with four thoughts which seem important when looking forward.  

Inside the Information Society: Does Europe’s GDPR change privacy and data protection?
Inside the Information Society: Does Europe’s GDPR change privacy and data protection? 18 June 2018 David Souter

In May, Internet users in Europe were flooded by emails from organisations telling them of changes in their data protection arrangements or asking them to renew consent to hold and use their data. Was this spam? No. It was the result of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – new European Union (EU) rules to govern how governments, businesses, charities and others can use the data ind...

Inside the Information Society: ICTs, the Internet and structural inequality
Inside the Information Society: ICTs, the Internet and structural inequality 11 June 2018 David Souter

What’s the impact of ICTs on equality and inequality? What’s the relationship between digital divides and other inequalities between women and men, old and young, poor and rich? Are new technologies reducing or increasing inequalities?

Inside the Information Society: Jobs? What jobs?
Inside the Information Society: Jobs? What jobs? 04 June 2018 David Souter

What will the digital society do to jobs? Will it usher in an age of unemployment or an age of leisure? Will we be served by robots or displaced by them? Will there be greater income inequality or less? This week: some comments on that theme, with a closing (counter-intuitive) conclusion.

Inside the Information Society: Innovation and development
Inside the Information Society: Innovation and development 28 May 2018 David Souter

Inside the Information Society returns after a break.  This week’s post (based on a speech written for a recent conference) looks at the relationship between innovation and development.

Inside the Information Society: The impact of the internet on democratic politics
Inside the Information Society: The impact of the internet on democratic politics 23 April 2018 David Souter

This story’s about many things: the power that data gives to data companies like Facebook; the potential that it gives those companies and others to influence opinion; the impact of new media on old, on politics and populism.

Inside the Information Society: Whatever happened to competition online?
Inside the Information Society: Whatever happened to competition online? 15 April 2018 David Souter

Instead of choosing between many different internet platforms, we’re dependent on a few. So what went wrong (or right, depending on your point of view)?

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