Social Transformation in an Information Society: Rethinking Access to You and the World by William H. Dutton, Director, Oxford Internet Institute The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The authors are responsible for the choice and the presentation of the facts contained in this book and for the opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization. Published in 2004 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 7, place de Fontenoy F-75352 Paris 07 SP © UNESCO 2004 Preface UNESCO has fully supported the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) preparatory process from its beginning, and has succeeded in defining and promoting its positions while setting the ground for its contri- bution to the Declaration of Principles and the Plan of Action that the Summit is expected to adopt. UNESCO’s proposed elements for inclusion in the Declaration of Principles and the Plan of Action are based on its mandate, which leads it to promote the concept of knowledge societies, rather than that of global information society since enhancing information flows alone is not sufficient to grasp the opportunities for development that is offered by knowledge. Therefore, a more complex, holistic and comprehensive vision and a clearly developmental perspective are needed. The proposals are responses to the main challenges posed by the construction of knowledge societies: first, to narrow the digital divide that accentuates disparities in development, excluding entire groups and countries from the benefits of information and knowledge; second, to guarantee the free flow of, and equitable access to, data, information, best practices and knowledge in the information society; and third, to build international consensus on newly required norms and principles. Knowledge societies should be firmly based on a commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression. They should also ensure the full realization of the right to education and of all cultural rights. In knowledge societies, access to the public domain of information and knowledge for educational and cultural purposes should be as broad as possible providing high quality, diversified and reliable information. Particular emphasis should be given to diversity of cultures and languages. In knowledge societies, the production and dissemination of educational, scientific and cultural materials, the preservation of the digital heritage, the quality of teaching and learning should be regarded as crucial elements. Networks of specialists and of virtual interest groups should be developed, as they are key to efficient and effective exchanges and cooperation in knowl- edge societies. ICTs should be seen both as educational discipline and as pedagogical tools in developing effective educational services. Lastly, these technologies are not merely tools, they inform and shape our modes of communication, and also the processes of our thinking and our creativity. How should we act so that this revolution of minds and instruments is not merely the privilege of a small number of economically highly developed countries? How can we ensure access for all to these information and intellectual resources, and overcome the social, cultural and linguistic obstacles? How should we promote the publication on line of increasingly more diversified contents, potentially a source of enrichment for the whole of humanity? What teaching opportunities are offered by these new means of communication? These are crucial questions to which answers must be found if knowledge societies are to become a reality, and offer a world-wide space for interaction and exchange. They are also questions which the actors of the development of these technologies – States, private enterprise and civil society – must answer together. On the occasion of the World Summit on the Information Society, UNESCO intends to make available to all participants a series of documents summarizing some of the most worrying questions which have just been mentioned. These will help participants to take the measure of the upheavals brought about by the emergence of the new information and communication technologies (NICTs), and will deal with the potential for development, the difficulties encountered, possible solutions, and the various projects imple- mented by UNESCO and its many partners. Abdul Waheed KHAN UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information Acknowledgements I have developed the ideas in this publication with the assistance of many colleagues at the Oxford Internet Institute (OII), where I am Director and a professor, and during previous periods as Director of the UK Economic and Social Research Council’s Programme on Information and Communica- tion Technologies (PICT) and as a professor at the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Southern California. I thank them all for the insights and research evidence that have helped to enrich my own work. I am particularly grateful for Malcolm Peltu’s assistance as an editor and colleague in helping me to clarify and communicate these ideas to a wider audience. Kunika Kono helped design and render several figures and illustra- tions. I also owe my thanks to staff of the Division of Information Society and Social and Human Sciences Sector of UNESCO in Paris for reading and offering valuable comments on earlier versions of this manuscript. William H. Dutton 7 Table of contents Acknowledgements 7 1. Introduction: opening and closing access pathways to your future 13 1.1 How ICTs can change your home life and the boundaries of your neighbourhood ......... 13 1.2 Electronic gateways to the wider world ........ 15 1.2.1 For liberty and oppression ............................. 15 1.2.2 In war and peace ............................................ 17 1.2.3 In crime and punishment............................... 18 1.3 Understanding the access revolution and its digital divides...................................................... 19 1.4 Beyond the information society: reconfigur- ing access for social transformations .............. 22 2. The information society and social transformation 23 2.1 Defining the post-industrial view of the information society............................................. 23 2.2 Insights gained from the information society vision ....................................................... 23 2.2.1 The economic significance of information work ................................................................ 23 2.2.2 Policy influences............................................. 24 2.3 Limitations of the information society per- spective ................................................................ 25 2.3.1 Expectations for predictable progress ............ 25 2.3.2 Misunderstanding the role of the informa- tion sector ....................................................... 26 2.3.3 A too-narrow focus on information ............... 27 2.4 Social transformation with ICTs....................... 28 2.4.1 New forms of access to people, services, information, and technology .......................... 29 2.4.2 Changing patterns of social and economic interaction....................................................... 31 2.4.3 Choices shaping social and economic inclu- sion or exclusion............................................. 31 2.4.4 Rethinking access: the reconfiguring access framework ....................................................... 34 3. ICTs and society: the evolution of different perspectives 37 3.1 Technology ........................................................... 37 3.1.1 Knowledge and control................................... 37 3.1.2 A two-edged tool that can heal or wound..... 39 3.2 Impacts ................................................................. 39 3.2.1 Technological determinism ............................. 42 3.2.2 The social impact of ICTs and social shap- ing of technology ............................................ 42 3.2.3 Media influences on audiences ...................... 44 3.3 Strategy................................................................. 45 3.3.1 Policy and management.................................. 45 3.3.2 Strategic digital choices in many arenas ....... 46 3.4 Information and access...................................... 47 3.4.1 Towards a new vision – beyond the infor- mation society................................................. 47 3.4.2 Information politics and communicative power............................................................... 48 4. Social change tied to technological choices 51 4.1 The bias and flexibility of ICTs........................ 51 4.2 Influences of digital choices on ICT design and use ................................................................. 53 4.2.1 Core innovations: technological enablers....... 53 4.2.2 Digital convergence and multimedia explo- sion.................................................................. 56 4.3 How technological advances shape recon- figuring access..................................................... 58 4.3.1 Changing cost structures ............................... 58 4.3.2 Expanding and contracting the geography of access and control......................................