Digital access is now a requirement for modern day life. Prior to
the pandemic people increasingly needed access to devices,
connection, and the skills needed to use them, and this has been
accelerated by the pandemic. However, research published today by
the leading think tank for the north of England finds that the
North East is likely to have higher levels of digital exclusion
than the rest of England.
The reasons that people find themselves digitally excluded are
varied, however today’s research shows that some of the groups
that are disproportionately affected include people experiencing
poverty, disabled people, asylum seekers, and those living in
rural locations.
It also shows that there is no ownership of coordinated,
collaborative efforts to tackle digital exclusion across the
nation, the North East, or locally. So while digital becomes ever
more essential, there is no cross cutting strategy to prevent the
consequences of digital exclusion.
Following an in depth study including interviews with people
across the region, researchers at IPPR North have identified the
need for a strategy to tackle digital exclusion in the north east
of England – and their report sets out a blueprint with which to
develop one. It recommends the introduction of new rights,
including:
-
The right to access a minimum speed connection at home
regardless of income: This means including the cost of
broadband in social security payments, allowances for asylum
seekers, and provision for those in state accommodation.
Researchers also recommend the expansion of public wi-fi
networks, and that internet companies establish ‘data banks’,
through which individuals could transfer their excess data to
the bank, to be accessed by those at risk of digital exclusion.
-
The right to essential digital skills: These
skills include having the ability to access health data, pay
bills online and communicate with others. To achieve this, it
would be essential that individuals are guaranteed support
until such skills are secured.
-
The right to affordable access to suitable
devices: People who need to use laptops and tablets
should be able to access them. This could be delivered through
loan-schemes at libraries or through re-distribution of unused
devices to those who need them. It can’t be assumed that
smartphones, despite being increasingly affordable, can solve
this problem.
Today’s research explains that the strategy to tackle digital
exclusion should be more ambitious than providing infrastructure
alone and should consider the range of reasons that people may
have for needing support, and that everyone – from government
departments, to employers, tech companies, local government and
others – should play a role in delivering it.
Report co-author Erica Roscoe said:
“Digital exclusion has been thrown into the spotlight during
the pandemic. However, it predates Covid-19 and, without action,
the pandemic may have set the country, and the North East in
particular, backwards. We must see urgent help to get people the
digital access they need.
“Digital access is not simply an IT issue. It is likely to
impact a range of areas such as productivity rates, mental
health, wellbeing and educational attainment in the region. This
is an issue of social justice.
“There is a wealth of enthusiastic and committed individuals
working across the North East to support those who need help, and
the infrastructure therefore exists to address digital exclusion.
However, no one has a clear responsibility for driving digital
inclusion. The time has come for minimum standards of digital
access, delivered as part of a cross cutting strategy for the
north east of England”.
