Ideally, everyone connected to the Internet would have the same free and easy access to information. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Information may be limited in a variety of ways.
Censorship logo on monitorAt a national level, certain countries may decide to block parts or all of the Internet. The leaders of a country may decide they don't want their citizens to see information about global events or ideas that run counter to their national policies. A government that is based on fear and intimidation may also want to prevent citizens from communicating freely with each other in order to prevent organized resistance.
It is also possible that some of the online services you use every day will censor information. For example, consider social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. All of these companies have Terms of Use that prohibit certain types of information or behavior. Posts that contain obviously illegal activities like terroristic threats or bullying are certainly prohibited and are removed when identified.
However, a company may decide to censor other posts based on political, religious, ethnic, or other content that is interpreted as violating the Terms of Use. These kinds of censorship decisions may be made by individual employees and could be subject to bias from that employee or the overall company culture. You would be prevented from seeing the post even if society at large would not consider the content to be harmful, unethical, or illegal.
Finally, think about how your opinions and choices are shaped by large search engines like Google. The page ranking of search results has a large impact on the links you follow. A link that is displayed earlier in the results list is more likely to be visited than something a few pages later. Do you trust your search engine to give you unbiased and uncensored results?
For example, Google might decide to promote their own products and services over the competition and show their own links first in the search results, moving competitive results later in the list or leaving them off entirely. You could only work around this kind of censorship by using an alternative search engine or finding links to those products from other sites.
Barrier to Equality: Language
Welcome written in many languagesIn the United States, English is the most common language. That means instructions for using computers, setting up home networks, and connecting to your ISP are often presented in English first. Those instructions may not be available in other languages. Similarly, when using apps on your computer or browsing online information, you may find the information you need in one language but not another. If you can't find instructions or information in the language you know, you may have difficulty using those computers, apps, and Internet resources.
English is commonly used worldwide for technical conversations, especially around computer science topics. Software engineers and computer scientists must still often communicate in English, regardless of their country, community, or family preferences. If considering a technical career, be sure to learn English if possible, even if it's not your first language!
Barrier to Equality: Accessibility
Digital accessibility is the ability of a website, mobile application, or computer program to be easily navigated and understood by a wide range of people. Some users have visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive disabilities that make it hard to read text on a page, hear audio from a video, type on a keyboard, or use a mouse.
To provide input or execute a command within a software program, you will usually type on a keyboard, use a mouse, or use your finger on a touch-sensitive screen. The program will respond with some sort of output, usually communicated as text, images, or videos on a computer screen or audible sounds or music played through the computer speakers.
What happens when you have a disability that affects your sight, hearing, or physical mobility? How can you provide inputs if you can't type, control a mouse or physically touch the screen? How would you understand visual or audio output if you can't see or hear?
Computer programs and websites may provide alternate types of inputs and outputs so all users can be successful. These accessibility standards reduce the digital divide that some users face when trying to work with computers or online resources.
Barrier to Equality: Bias
Bias happens when you develop a feeling or viewpoint about a subject or group, especially when the feeling is not based on actual experience with that group. As humans, it is easy for us to let bias guide our work, even if we don't realize it. Software engineers who develop new programs and services should carefully consider all parts of their target market to avoid bias.
For example, if you are developing a speech-recognition algorithm, you might naturally train that system to recognize your own voice. If you only test the system with your own speech, it might not work at all for users that speak differently. Someone who grows up in a different region might speak the same language but have their own accents, words, or phrases. You should train your system with sample data from all parts of your target market.
Bias is not simply a matter of using representative data or ensuring algorithms will work for many people. When developing a new idea, you might ignore features that you don't want, even if many other people would find them useful. When marketing the product, you might develop a sales campaign that works well for one group but is offensive to another. Ensuring that a computer product or online service is free from bias takes a dedicated effort throughout the software development life-cycle (SDLC).
Bridging the Digital Divide
There are certainly many factors that can contribute to a digital divide. How can we help close this gap? As an individual, you are responsible for your own actions. This means you can recognize the barriers to equality and work to avoid or overcome problems when you can. For example, as a software engineer, you can avoid bias in your own work, ensure your products and services are accessible for all users, and design software to support multiple languages.
Certainly, some barriers to equality are beyond the control of a single person. Larger organizations like schools or companies can step in to help close the digital divide. For example, some schools may offer free WiFi or provide a laptop computer to each student, ensuring there is enough computing power for all students to finish homework. These technical programs might be funded in partnership with private companies or charitable organizations.
On their own, companies may establish policies to avoid bias and ensure all products are accessible to as many users as possible. Companies can also develop products and services specifically designed for disadvantaged users. For example, new networks of low-earth orbit satellites can provide fast Internet service to rural users or those living in areas that can't get traditional Internet connections.
At a national level, governments can provide can pass laws supporting free speech, help establish standards for accessibility, and avoid censoring or blocking online services.
How do censorship and bias keep information away from groups of people?
Why might individuals who don't speak the most common language in an area struggle with computing resources?
What is digital accessibility? What should software companies and websites do to ensure accessibility?
How can bias creep into computer products? Is bias limited to computer code and data?
What are some ways individuals, companies, and governments can help close the digital divide?
Censorship and bias can keep information away from certain groups of people by limiting what they can access online. Censorship prevents certain information from being seen, while bias in algorithms or development can prioritize certain content or features over others, potentially excluding or marginalizing certain groups.
Individuals who don't speak the most common language in an area may struggle with computing resources because instructions, information, and resources are often presented in the dominant language first. This can make it difficult for non-native speakers to access and utilize technology effectively.
Digital accessibility refers to the ability of websites, applications, and programs to be easily navigated and understood by a wide range of users, including those with disabilities. Software companies and websites should ensure that their products are accessible by providing alternate inputs and outputs for users with different abilities.
Bias can creep into computer products through the development process, such as training algorithms with biased data or ignoring features that may be useful to a broader range of users. Bias is not limited to computer code and data, as it can also manifest in marketing strategies, design decisions, and overall product development.
Individuals, companies, and governments can help close the digital divide by recognizing and addressing barriers to equality, avoiding bias in products and services, ensuring accessibility for all users, and providing resources and support to underserved communities. This can include offering free internet access, providing necessary technology resources, passing laws supporting free speech and equal access, and developing products tailored to disadvantaged users. Collaboration between different stakeholders is essential in bridging the digital divide and promoting equality in access to information and technology.