Robin Mansell

Professor, Department of Media and Communications, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK

If investment in digital networks and access to information is to support sustainable development, it must respect local people’s aspirations. Investing to connect the unconnected is only a first step. Inclusive data-intensive societies cannot be achieved without paying attention to local contexts. Knowledge building requires listening to the voices of local people and treating multiple knowledge systems respectfully. Translating information into knowledge responsive to local needs requires experience in a context. It requires formal and informal learning – media and information literacy and AI literacy – about how to integrate digital information into people’s lives in ways that are consistent with human dignity.

If people can acquire skills to make sense of complex information environments, they have a better chance of coping with disinformation and hate speech and opportunities to engage in participatory deliberation and choices about pathways towards alternatives to the digital tools provided by big tech companies. They can imagine and implement governance of their information environments in their collective interests and especially in the interests of those who are marginalised and discriminated against.

Investing in literacy is essential but responsibility for protecting people – adults and children – from information ecosystem harms should not be devolved solely to individuals. Governance rules and norms – state or through collective bottom-up arrangements – are essential to resist preferences of big tech companies for digital systems aimed at maximising profit through data monetisation.

Keywords: digital networks, digital information, local people, data-intensive societies, media and information literacy, AI literacy, governance, participation.