Background

According to the 2021 World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report, the COVID-19 pandemic has left societies and economies damaged, widened existing disparities within communities and between nations, and disproportionately harmed certain sectors and societal groups.

In Taiwan, the Internet use rate in rural areas is not much different than in non-rural areas, according to the Taiwan Internet Report 2020. But does this mean that Taiwan does not have the problem of digital divide? It is explained in the WEF Global Risks Report that digital inequality means fractured and/or unequal access to critical digital networks and technology due to unequal investment capabilities, lack of necessary skills in the workforce, insufficient purchase power, government restrictions and/or cultural differences.

The biased algorithm embedded in social media platforms, the widening gaps between the technical haves and have-nots within and between countries, and the states’ inability to regulate thus closing the division, can all contribute to worsening the digital inequality. In this session, we will try to understand the context, factors, and ramifications of Taiwan’s digital inequality.

Information

• Date: June 24 (Thu.) 2021, 14:00-16:00（on live）

Moderator:

• Wu, Chyi-In, Deputy Director, Institute of Sociology, Academia Sinica

Panelist:

• Rong-Guey Ho, Professor (retired), Graduate Institute of Information and Computer education, National Taiwan Normal University
• Yu-Shiou (Clarence) Chou, Chair, Taiwan Association for Human Rights
• Shiu, Wen-Wei, Head of Digital Equality Advancement Office, Ministry of Education