Will E-Government increase social inequalities created by the Internet? Graham Findlay

Introduction E-Government The Digital Divide Online Services The E-Government Divide? Possible Solutions Conclusion

E-Government G2C: Context of Government to Citizens Delivery of Public Services Efficient and effective delivery Initial driving force to reduce paperwork Now to encourage more interaction between citizens and government Moving through stages from web pages to portals to customised content.

E-Government Cont... New Zealand government emphasises trust before Digital Divide: – Building trust in government – authentication, privacy and security Citizens can download forms Get Access to information – Tourist – Health – Information on available services – Much easier and faster to find information online

The Digital Divide Between those who have and those who do not Exists within a country e.g. Between rich and poor, young and old, levels of education. – Focus moved from cost to skills Exists between countries e.g. Between Developed and Developing countries, infrastructure. Rich get richer and poor get poorer. – When new technology becomes available, it is those who already have the greatest resources that can afford it. – More evident in Developing countries

Online Services School Admissions – completed by parents Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's eAdmissions National Project Every local education authority is expected to provide online forms for school admissions by September 2006 Report: Targeting existing users of online services "will only exacerbate the divide between those that use and those that don't use online services" – Will this be the same for E-Government?

The E-Government Divide? Deliver information, even training and education to citizens. Will only benefit those who have skills and access. Online payments, to unemployed, elderly cannot reach the people which they would help. Adoption hindered by trust in government and the perceived usefulness of services.

Possible Solutions Significant number of people will never be online, so E-Government must compliment existing services. Some people may prefer not to use E- Government even if they have access. Public must be made aware of advantages. – Greater enthusiasm could mean increased interest in technology by groups who can afford it but are not currently online. – Money saved invested in further promotion. In time the Digital Divide will narrow. – Education and exposure to technology.

Conclusion The Digital Divide is further emphasised by each new technology. E-Government will have some services which are most useful to the poor and elderly, the two groups which are least connected. Divide must be addressed successfully before E-Government will be accepted by all. E-Government will change the way government is run. – Interactions at a department office may be the same as those done remotely over the Internet.