Bridging the Digital Divide – Policies and Actions Professor Birgit Jæger Dep. of Society and Globalisation Roskilde University Denmark

Digital Divide Definition Those who have or don’t have access to computers and internet A Global Divide A Social Divide A Political Divide Multi dimensional and complex

Access in EU The Netherlands: 92 % of households Norway: 91 % Sweden: 90 % Denmark: 88 % EU: 74 % No access to internet: Denmark: 13 % EU: 30 %

ICT-skills and Age AgeLevel 0Level 1Level 2Level 3Total %6%44%48%100% %15%38%44%100% %20%41%31%100% %25%34%25%100% %24%21%15%100% 70 up74%14%11%1%100%

The Digital Divide How big is the digital divide? Definition: Never used the internet – 12 % of the Danish population Definition: Too low ICT skills to use digital services – 41 % of the Danish population

What is the Problem? A Democratic Problem:  Inclusion in the Information Society  Perspective: the single citizen An Economic Problem:  Harvest the investments in e-government  Perspective: the public authorities

Motivation for Use of ICT

A Teacher’s Evaluation “… because the seniors get access to that part of the Danish language, which is called computer jargon, they become valid members of the society because now they can join the conversation.”

An Old Man “It was a jungle for me before I started. I thought I could never find out before we started. Now I have gained an insight into a whole new world… I can talk with the grandchildren about it. I am not completely an idiot; I am more equal whit other people now where I have sniffed a little to it.”

Policies – Part 1 Left Wing government Info-Society Year 2000  An Information Society build on Danish Values  Avoid a digital divide  ICT for all  The public sector as a driver

Danish ICT-Policy Info-Society Year 2000: ”The strategy should be based on a Danish Model involving that market forces are not allowed to be left alone. We must make sure that a number of special values prevail, primary through a public sector effort.”

Actions to Prevent a Digital Divide Mapping the problem Research and development program:  Elderly People’s use of ICT –  Six local experiments  Four research projects Involvement of civil society organizations  DaneAge Association  The Danish Association of Senior Citizens

Policies – Part 2 Right Wing government 2001 –2011 Digital Roads to Growth  Change the focus from the users (a nation of users) to a focus on the private sector (make money) and a more effective e-government  The responsibility is at the individual level  E-government strategy 2011: One channel to the public authorities in 2015

Actions – Part 2 DaneAge Association: Support and local training The Danish Association of Senior Citizens: Internet Cafés Develop e-government services for elderly Learn more about ICT network – 2010 An investigation of the motivation of seniors to use ICT

Recommendations The digital divide does not disappear and is not just for seniors Look at it as a democratic problem Motivation: digital citizenship – not a favor to the public authorities Acknowledge the civil society organizations Accept non-users and continue to offer non- digital government Rethink the digital public services for all users

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