The Digital Chasm: A Modern Pathway to Poverty
At the Re:publica 25 conference in Berlin-Kreuzberg, Lanna Idriss, CEO of SOS Children's Village, raised concerns about the widening digital divide and the emergence of digital colonialism. Statistics indicate that during the event, two individuals worldwide become billionaires, further exacerbating the gap between the rich and the poor.
Digital competencies, according to Idriss, are now essential for independent development. The digital divide, defined as the disparity in access to the internet, digital education, and communication, is increasing. In high-income countries, 93% of the population has access to these facilities, while this figure drops to 27% in low-income countries, primarily due to infrastructure constraints. Major corporations like Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon hold the power to determine the placement of undersea cables for data traffic, a factor influencing the digital divide.
In Kenya, only 2% of the population has internet access, while in Germany, it's the opposite – 2% of the population lacks internet access. According to Eurostat, about 5% of the German population aged 16 to 74 has never been online. Within Germany, the digital divide presents itself differently. Jasmin Rocha, head of the Digitalization department of the Social Association Diakonie, underlined this point, stating that some groups less affine with digital technology are overrepresented in various aspects of their work.
Diakonie, an organization advocating for people with social challenges, is trying to promote digital participation this year. They have presented several projects, including an interactive citizen's income calculator. The mission of the Paritätischer, another welfare association, is consistently dismantling barriers and creating equal opportunities for digital participation.
Older people and the homeless often advocate for the right to analog participation due to digitalization challenges. For example, people without a fixed address have faced difficulties purchasing SIM cards since the Anti-Terrorism Act was passed in 2017. Janine Steiz from the Professional Association for Occupational Safety and Health is working on developing a tool to make bureaucratic language understandable within the context of welfare administration.
In conclusion, the digital divide is a significant factor in social and economic disparities. The lack of digital access can limit entrepreneurship, innovation, and access to global markets in low-income countries, while dependency on foreign technology and data exploitation by global tech companies perpetuate digital disparities. To ensure equitable digital participation and socio-economic development, strategies should focus on addressing the digital divide, promoting local technological innovation, and regulating global tech dominance.
Digital competencies are crucial for independent development, as they can bridge the widening digital divide and promote equality. However, the rapid advancement in technology and finance fuels Digital colonialism, with major corporations like Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon controlling the placement of undersea cables and data traffic, thus exacerbating the divide between high-income and low-income countries. In the quest for equitable digital participation, organizations such as Diakonie and the Paritätischer are working to address these disparities through initiatives like promoting digital participation for older people, the homeless, and those challenged by bureaucratic language.
