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 Digital Society: Digital education. Enthusiasts, realists and the coronavirus
Inside the Digital Society: Digital education. Enthusiasts, realists and the coronavirus 15 June 2020 David Souter

Realism’s been gaining ground, but anyone who reads the literature knows that hype’s still hot in digital discourse. Education’s been one of the battlegrounds, and coronavirus has brought it to the fore again.

Inside the Digital Society: Digital well-being
Inside the Digital Society: Digital well-being 01 June 2020 David Souter

In the digital society, how do we measure well-being?

Inside the Digital Society: What’s digital about welfare?
Inside the Digital Society: What’s digital about welfare? 25 May 2020 David Souter

Technology enables governments to do things more efficiently and more effectively than would otherwise have been the case, for good or bad. This week, I’ll take a look at that through the prism of social welfare or protection

Inside the Digital Society: Good (digital) government
Inside the Digital Society: Good (digital) government 18 May 2020 David Souter

What does good government mean in principle? How is it altered by the digital society? How should government and the digital world respond?

Inside the Digital Society: Finding a healthy balance
Inside the Digital Society: Finding a healthy balance 11 May 2020 David Souter

A crisis like the present shows the importance of thinking issues like privacy through beforehand rather than trying to fix them after the event.

Inside the Digital Society: Privacy and the digital revolution
Inside the Digital Society: Privacy and the digital revolution 04 May 2020 David Souter

The digital revolution has a complex relationship with privacy, and it's become especially relevant as a result of the coronavirus crisis. 

Inside the Digital Society: Investment priorities - 5G or not 5G?
Inside the Digital Society: Investment priorities - 5G or not 5G? 27 April 2020 David Souter

In terms of the expansion of 5G technology, there are big public policy implications , which are about national resources as well as digital investment. 

Inside the Digital Society: Is homeworking working?
Inside the Digital Society: Is homeworking working? 20 April 2020 David Souter

Millions have turned spare rooms (if they have them) into home offices and now spend their days in Zoom chats and on Microsoft Teams in virtual rather than physical proximity with their co-workers. How’s that going? And what questions should we ask?

Inside the Digital Society: Another way to look at access and equality?
Inside the Digital Society: Another way to look at access and equality? 13 April 2020 David Souter

My last four blogs discussed the impact of the current virus crisis on the digital society. I’m moving for the next few weeks to other subjects, but it’s worth noting that the crisis will have an impact on every aspect of the digital society.

Inside the Digital Society: Resetting digital governance
Inside the Digital Society: Resetting digital governance 06 April 2020 David Souter

This is my fourth blog on the impact which the corona virus is having on the digital society. This time I’ll comment on internet/digital governance. Is this the time for re-set?

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