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The digital divide is a denial of human rights

Sassoon Grigorian

by Sassoon Grigorian

22 Sep 05:35am

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Filed under: Broadband, Communication, Internet, National Broadband Network, Technology

49 comments

The right to digital access, should be a right we expect like a right to equality, or accessibility.

Advance Australia Wired. Illustration: Eric Lobbecke

Recent debate about the price households will pay for their broadband as the National Broadband Network (NBN) is rolled out, has raised issues such as affordability.

As that debate continues, it is important to also focus on the need for digital inclusion to improve quality of life, and on extending opportunities - particularly in employment.

Infoxchange, an Australian NGO seeking a digitally inclusive society, sees universal access to technology and connectivity as a fundamental infrastructure requirement of any civil and democratic society that espouses equal opportunity, equality and a fair go.

Digital disadvantage can take many forms. It is the seniors, like my parents, who cannot email their children or grandchildren. It is the manual labourer who has been laid off and is seeking employment, who having never used a computer, now finds that he or she needs to submit an electronic job application, or it can be the family that cannot afford a computer, or access to the Internet.

Digital proficiency improves the effectiveness of service delivery and has a flow-on effect that creates a more digitally inclusive society.

Research by A T Kearney last year Assessing the economic benefits of digital inclusion found that a digital inclusion project in a public housing estate in Victoria generated $5.9 million of benefits to residents and the broader community, through:

  • Additional skills and access to new jobs
  • Greater social and economic connectivity
  • Greater transactional efficiencies
  • Improvements to health and wellbeing.

Better preparing our least skilled workers to participate in a 21st century workforce has the potential to lift participation rates, enhance productivity and drive innovation.

Speaking at a recent Digital Inclusion Summit, Minister Conroy referred to a report by the Allen Consulting Group commissioned by the Department of Communications, Broadband, and the Digital Economy, which found gains to Australian household consumption of $148 a week in homes with an internet connection through time-saving activities.

The Minister is correct in saying that “It is not enough to just deliver access to the internet at home. It is also about ensuring access to high quality broadband-enabled services, and the skills and resources to maximise them.”

Former HP CEO Carly Fiorina put it succinctly:

Many people see technology as the problem behind the so-called digital divide. Others see it as the solution. Technology is neither. It must operate in conjunction with business, economic, political and social system.


By 2020, according to the National Digital Economy Strategy, Australia may well have one of the world’s most advanced broadband networks, but the risk we must avoid is allowing the most vulnerable sections of our society to be found on the wrong side of a digital divide.

Former Government adviser, working in the IT industry.

Most commented

49 comments

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    • Erick says:

      05:43am | 22/09/11

      Digital access is highly desirable, and perhaps should be provided to people who can’t afford it - but it is not a “human right”.

      There is no “right” to be provided with any of the necessities of life, far less the optional extras like Net access. Human rights extend only to the protection of people from violence and oppression. Everything beyond that is an optional extra provided by a generous society.

      The creeping trend of creating more and more entitlements under the guise of “human rights” is ultimately harmful to society.

      Reply

    • dovif says:

      08:44am | 22/09/11

      I agree with Erick ... WOW

      I also believe havign Cattle in my backyard and having a 10 acre farm should be a human right. I would love to go to the back yard in the morning and milk a cow in the morning and have fresh milk and eggs.

      It is my choice to live in the city, and it is their choice to live on a farm. The people who lives in rural community gets fresh air, free eggs, milk, less stress etc, but because it cost more to supply them with internet, they should pay more.

      I live in the city, because a city is high density, I pay less for my internet, but I pay more for milk, eggs and only get fresh country air and get to relax, when I am on holiday

      It is not a human right, it is a lifestyle choice, if they want cheap internet move to the city

    • MarkS says:

      08:49am | 22/09/11

      @Erick
      True
      People who either want your money or to control your actions say “human right”, the message is that you are some sort of evil inhuman monster if you deny this invented right. Really they are con men wishing to steal your money or your freedom.

      Every time someone says “human right”, ask yourself the following question. Does somebody, maybe even you have an obligation to provide what they demand? If you do then the right exists, if not they are lying con men.

      Let’s try this on an old style human right, say “right to life”. Does somebody in our society have an obligation to ensure that people within our society are not killed out of hand?

      Clearly the answer is yes, all of us have an obligation except in very constrained circumstances not to kill & furthermore the government has an obligation to enforce laws against killing.

      All rights are nothing more than an obligation on somebody else to do or not do something. They should be called “Obligations” not “Rights’.

      So Mr Grigorian, go away con artist. I see your nasty trick & refuse to fall for it.

    • Expat Ozzie says:

      09:15am | 22/09/11

      “Human rights extend only to the protection of people from violence and oppression.”

      That’s hardly the only right people should have Erick. You seem to be particularly defensive of your right to free speech. Their is also the right to equality and the right to a fair and honest trial. Their are far more rights a person should have over your very basic ideal.

    • Michael N says:

      09:18am | 22/09/11

      Unfortunately the Universal Declaration on Human Rights contains an exhaustive list of “rights” but I agree, if everything is a Human Right, then nothing is.

      Out of interest Punch Team, do the Authors choose their own headlines or are they assigned by yourselves?

    • Mark G says:

      11:24am | 22/09/11

      Erick,

      Very true, its amazing how many thing get rationalised as a human right these days. My main problem with this article is the statements like:

      “is the manual labourer who has been laid off and is seeking employment, who having never used a computer, now finds that he or she needs to submit an electronic job application, “

      Sounds like a great emotive arguement but when you think about it a bit harder your realise that this is really stupid. The most likely explaination for why a labourer has bad computer skills is not that he couldn’t afford the connection or simply didnt have access. It would be more likely that he just didnt give a crap until he needed to apply for a job. You can’t force people to connect if they dont want to.

    • fml says:

      11:34am | 22/09/11

      You can argue, that education is a human right, and this is just part of a quality education that we can afford to our children.

    • andye says:

      02:46pm | 22/09/11

      @Erick - Yeah, I am not sure I buy the “Human Right” argument… but I do believe the NBN is an important investment. I also believe guaranteed high speeds across the country will grease the wheels of business and allow new services to be delivered.

      Things that are useless now on wireless and only OK on ADSL (such as Remote Desktop) will run well even when other users in your household are on the internet. This is important, with households increasingly having multiple users connected over various devices.

      On demand video and music are services that are exploding at the moment, but our current infrastructure isn’t going to handle it.

      The current copper network is getting increasingly expensive to maintain and ADSL is already well beyond what we thought were its limits. The initial fibre optic for the NBN will only be at a small percentage of its theoretical capacity.

    • Super D says:

      06:40am | 22/09/11

      Seems everything is a “right” these days.

      Reply

    • TomZ says:

      08:57am | 22/09/11

      Well said. Such a mindless mantra.

      I bet the author is spinning up funding for yet another feel-good committee and endless pompous junkets to tell us all we are bad people.

    • Giraffe says:

      09:38am | 22/09/11

      I know, like poofs have a ‘right’ to the word marriage, economic asylum seekers have a ‘right’ to everything, women have a ‘right’ to preferential treatment in the workplace and the filthy unions have a ‘right’ to disrupt society for their own narrow interests. Human rights have become devalued to a point of many people not wanting to listen every time it’s mentioned.

    • Nathan says:

      06:45am | 22/09/11

      the key is ensuring that the government incentive’s and provides resources to reskill people.

      Our future is not in manual labour we can’t compete with the China’s of this world so lets dominate areas where we have advantages

      Reply

    • acotrel says:

      07:19am | 22/09/11

      I live 200Km from Melbourne, and 100Km from Albury.  There is a TAFE in our town which teaches subjects at nursery level, many of which only fit people for jobs as servants in our rural economy.  The NBN offers hope that country kids might advance their education, without the upheavel of moving to a city, finding accomodation and a job, to live at subsistence level.

    • MadKat of Melbourne says:

      11:17am | 22/09/11

      acotrel - do you not have any internet where you live? People can do correspondence university courses via the internet now without the need for the NBN - you only need to be able to download PDF files - why wait ?? Sounds to me more like an excuse to whinge than to be pro-active -

    • TomZ says:

      11:55am | 22/09/11

      So every dole-bludging druggo parasite is going to stop the wife bashing and become a model citizen as soon as the NBN hits town?

    • David says:

      03:43pm | 22/09/11

      @Acotrel

      Why do kids need the NBN to advance their education. You can do that with an ADSL connection. And it is a lot cheaper than the price they are expecting us to pay for a fibre connection.

      I have an ADSL2+ connection and obtain a downstream connection speed of about 14Mbps. It costs me $30 per month for 15GB of download traffic which is all I need. Uploads are free. If the NBN means that I am going to have to pay $50+ per month for an entry level 10Mbps connection, they can keep it. And as for speeds up to 100Mbps, like really what am I going to want to do with that, stream 20 movies at once?

    • marley says:

      07:13am | 22/09/11

      I’m not very clear on what it is you want.  A government-supplied computer with tax-financed broadband in every home, and training programs in computer use for every living Australian? 

      The government didn’t, to my knowledge, supply telephones when they were leading edge technology, or television sets when they were at the forefront.  People took responsibility for getting these things themselves.  NBN aside, I’m not sure why anyone but the user should pay for computers and internet access.  And there are plenty of free courses, at least for seniors.

      Reply

    • komet says:

      08:11am | 22/09/11

      I would say that the internet is more analogous with a library than the telephone or television. Like a library, you are in control of the information you receive rather than a television which is more restrictive in terms of information coming in.

      I would rather choose my own porn than take a gamble on what late night movie SBS might be playing.

      Then again it is more a combination of all of these things…plus porn, lets never forget the porn.

    • Al says:

      09:10am | 22/09/11

      komet:
      The problem with your statement is that public libraries still exist and the vast majority provide internet access for free (but with porn blockers on so sorry, no porn).

    • Markus says:

      10:22am | 22/09/11

      “(but with porn blockers on so sorry, no porn)”
      Now THAT is a gross violation of human rights!

    • fml says:

      10:22am | 22/09/11

      Alternatively,

      If faster, cheaper internet is provided to encourage small businesses to compete online (Seriously this is where retail is heading) that it would be a boon for the economy. If more small business move towards online retail, we will see a growth in many areas of IT. Its theoretically like a virtual silk road.

    • marley says:

      11:33am | 22/09/11

      @fml - I’m of mixed mind about NBN, so I excluded that from my little diatribe.  I can certainly see the argument that the NBN is infrastructure, and just as I’m prepared to pay for roads, I should be prepared to pay for the systems necessary to create a high-speed internet.  Where I draw the line is paying for other peoples’ cars.

    • fml says:

      12:29pm | 22/09/11

      Marley,

      Well thats essentially what is happening, isnt it?
      We are paying for the road, but you need to pay the isp for your own personal access. I do suppose the set top boxes for the NBN can be see as a “What the hell are they doing with my taxes?”
      People can pay for it themselves, but this will rapidly reduce the uptake of the service. But if everyone gets one, then really we are only paying for ourselves.

    • Tony of Poorakistan says:

      12:45pm | 22/09/11

      fml

      That might be true if everyone paid the same. Let’s have an across the board fixed levy, no freeloaders, and I will agree with you.

    • marley says:

      01:27pm | 22/09/11

      @fml - oh, I don’t have a conceptual problem with all of us paying for the NBN infrastructure, just as we all pay for highways.  Where I have a conceptual problem is with the author’s argument that possession of a computer, internet access and training are a “human right.”  They aren’t, anymore than having a car in the garage and free petrol to put into it are human rights.  That’s my point.

    • fml says:

      02:01pm | 22/09/11

      Marley, thats fair enough,

      Would you consider then, education to be a human right? would we be able to conceivably categorise the NBN/laptops as essential for quality education, that is, essential for ensuring a quality curriculum?

    • MarkS says:

      02:19pm | 22/09/11

      The NBN is vital 21st century Infrastructure, a bit like an electricity network was vital infrastructure that had to be built over the 20th century.

      I am quite willing to accept that I have an obligation to pay taxes & the government has an obligation to ensure that vital infrastructure is built.

      The present government has not shown any competence so I have my doubts they will not stuff this up as well. But we cannot trust the other side to be any better; the mad monk’s mob still seems to be in the 19th century in relation to IT issues.

    • marley says:

      04:14pm | 22/09/11

      @fml - education is a human right, yes - or, to be precise, access to education.  I don’t have an issue with computers and broadband in schools - they’re as much part of the learning process as textbooks and labs.  (Though I have my doubts about how much they really add to the education process - the laptop generation doesn’t seem to be any more literate, numerate or informed than those of us who grew up with blackboards.  Personal grumble over). 

      But I digress.  I just think that taking the argument about education and extending it to infer that it is a human right to have a laptop in every home, regardless of the age of the person, or the purpose the laptop is for - well, that’s just going too far.

    • Matt says:

      08:06am | 22/09/11

      ‘The right to digital access, should be a right we expect like a right to equality, or accessibility.’

      That’s as far as I got with your article… Comparing internet access to equality or calling it a ‘right’ is just plain stupid.

      Reply

    • mick says:

      08:08am | 22/09/11

      Several observations.  Firstly, you can’t make people embrace digital technology.  I mean there are people who have lived in this country for 60 years and more but can’t speak English.  Secondly, the technology is too difficult for some of those in our society to use effectively.  Thirdly, all of those poor misguided souls who intend to vote for a Tony Abbott future need to bear in mind that Abbott has stated that he will kill off the National Broadband Network.

      Reply

    • Joan Crawfish says:

      08:18am | 22/09/11

      I don’t have the internet at home and fail to see why I should have to pay for someone else to have it.  Just like I don’t have a uni degree and fail to see why I should have to pay for someone else’s uni degree.  We have equality of opportunity in this country and plenty of people from VERY humble beginnings work their way up to lofty heights against all the odds.  Because they didn’t sit back and expect anyone to hand it to them.

      Reply

    • SimpleSimon says:

      08:56am | 22/09/11

      I take it you’re not one of these people.

    • fml says:

      10:27am | 22/09/11

      You dont pay for anyone elses uni degree, we pay for it ourselves and pay it back with interest.

      I dont understand your logic, just because you dont need internet or a university education, then our government shouldnt help other people to access these?

      I mean, there are plenty of roads i dont use in this country, why should i pay for them?

      Also, you are on an internet blog, i assume your work has the internet? Would they be able to have a business with out it?

    • MadKat of Melbourne says:

      11:33am | 22/09/11

      Joan - you don’t pay for someone’s else uni degree - I’ve paid for my own through HECs. With that logic maybe you shouldn’t reap the economic and social rewards of university-educated people doing research for such thing as medicines and technology or bringing innovation to the country.

      The reverse is also true - why should I pay more tax because I’m educated and earn more to subsidise lower-income workers who can’t be bothered to get an education and lift themselves up.

      Or I don’t have children so why should I subsidise primary and secondary education, or children’s hospitals.

      It’s because we all have obligations to the community we live in Joan.

      (Before anyone comments I definitely don’t think that I shouldn’t subsidise any of the things I’ve blogged about - I’m only using it as an example.)

    • David says:

      04:00pm | 22/09/11

      @Joan,

      OK if I had an attitude just like yours: I pay 1.5% of my salary as the Medicare levy and go to the doctor about once per year. I fail to see why I should have to pay for all those free loaders in hospitals to receive medical treatment.

    • Frank says:

      08:29am | 22/09/11

      This commentary from Paul Fletcher of all people about NBN Pricing being more expensive is just rubbish, as a Iinet user I can move over to a NBN plan from my existing one which will cost me the same every month but more than triple my speed and double my downloads…the NBN is NOT more expensive if anything its more affordable, you just have to choose the right ISP and not the ones who are already too expensive with little to offer (by way of downloads) with ADSL2+ (Telstra!!!)

      Reply

    • marley says:

      08:54am | 22/09/11

      @Frank - well, living where I do, it’s Telstra or nothing.

    • Expat Ozzie says:

      09:20am | 22/09/11

      Ah Telstra, one of John Howards triumphs that was!!

    • RyaN says:

      10:04am | 22/09/11

      @dovif: as much as I hate the rampant waste of taxpayer money that is the NBN, I have to give it to them that the iinet plans are actually pretty good.
      http://www.iinet.net.au/nbn/

    • SimpleSimon says:

      09:00am | 22/09/11

      I think one of the key misconceptions among the community is that the NBN will only offer internet - it won’t. It will also provide all of the telephone services, fax, B2B alarms etc.. And it will do it all for much cheaper than the current copper network. If, when the NBN arrives, people want exactly the same services they’re receiving now, they will be able to get it at a cheaper price than they currently pay.

      Also, with a Government owned infrastructure, there is no reason the Government can’t provide a basic internet package to every household for free.

      Reply

    • Bomb78 says:

      11:24am | 22/09/11

      SS: the unit price may be cheaper, but how about the capital component? Whilst the copper network at large might be expensive to maintain, turning it all off - especially in places where the NBN fibre won’t reach - seems to me like a waste of an asset.
      And nothing the government provides is free. Giving away access would make it harder for commercial providers to make money out of it; the public sector can’t provide service to consumers as efficiently as the private sector (BER anyone?); and the government is counting on the commercial providers so it’s gets some return on the $43 billion of public money it’s spending!

    • Anna C says:

      09:19am | 22/09/11

      The digital divide is not a denial of human rights. No one is stopping people from accessing the internet at their local library. I don’t think it is the job of the government to pay for every Australian to have a computer and internet access at home. This is a luxury we cannot afford. People like Sassoon need to get their priorities right. Last time I checked internet access was not included on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

      Reply

    • fml says:

      10:32am | 22/09/11

      Those crazy Columbians, maybe there is a lesson here. Legalise Cocaine!

    • Occam's Blunt Razor says:

      11:14am | 22/09/11

      Don’t worry.

      Whoever stole my laptop is no longer discriminated against.

      On a more serious note - anyone who wants access can go to a public library.  This is not a “human rights” issue.  Yes - that is a full stop.

      Reply

    • The Malabar Swamp says:

      01:42pm | 22/09/11

      the federal government is giving free set top boxes to welfare recipients and other poor aussies. The Libs give them fibs only.

      Reply

    • Yugo says:

      04:04pm | 22/09/11

      Power and water should be human rights, they should be free or included in yearly rates. TV and internet are luxuries.

      Reply
 
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