Digital Divide

Bridging Digital Divides

Technology’s benefits often go most directly to those with the greatest access to privilege and wealth, while its harms are largely inflicted on those already facing discrimination, marginalization, and injustice. Bridging digital divides and achieving racial, social, gender, and environmental justice is fundamental for defending human rights in the digital age.

internet gateway

Why internet shutdowns are even worse for women

We all know internet shutdowns violate human rights and destroy people’s lives and livelihoods. For women around the world, they also take away crucial opportunities and exacerbate the inequality and injustice they already suffer.

Related Issues

Latest Updates

Passport and Visa Systems must not exclude members of human rights community around the world
Protest and Online Organizing
Protest and Online Organizing

Joint Statement: Passport and visa systems must not exclude members of the human rights community from cross-border convenings

7 Jun 2023

These discriminatory systems prevent human rights defenders from coming together to advance their work, bring severe hardship and harm to those impacted, and unjustly place the heaviest burden on people from the Global Majority. Join us in taking a stand.

Campaign
Joint Statement: Passport and visa systems must not exclude members of the human rights community from cross-border convenings
7 Jun 2023
Joint Statement: Passport and visa systems must not exclude members of the human rights community from cross-border convenings
Tech and conflict
Transparency
Transparency

Tech and conflict: a guide for responsible business conduct

18 May 2023

This guide is meant to help tech companies think through the impacts of their decisions in the context of conflict.

Guide
Tech and conflict: a guide for responsible business conduct
18 May 2023
Tech and conflict: a guide for responsible business conduct
Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition's report unpacks internet shutdowns in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and globally.
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

Resurging internet shutdowns in 2022: weapons of control, shields of impunity

28 Feb 2023
Press Release
Resurging internet shutdowns in 2022: weapons of control, shields of impunity
28 Feb 2023
Resurging internet shutdowns in 2022: weapons of control, shields of impunity
internet gateway
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

U.S. President Biden signs into law $65 billion for more accessible and affordable internet

1 Mar 2022

Today, President Biden signed the bipartisan infrastructure bill into law, which includes $65 billion to close the digital divide.

Press Release
U.S. President Biden signs into law $65 billion for more accessible and affordable internet
1 Mar 2022
U.S. President Biden signs into law $65 billion for more accessible and affordable internet
internet gateway
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Civil society defends affordable broadband in New York

2 Dec 2021

Access Now and a coalition of civil society organizations filed an amicus brief in support of New York’s Affordable Broadband Act (ABA).

Press Release
Civil society defends affordable broadband in New York
2 Dec 2021
Civil society defends affordable broadband in New York
internet gateway
Covid-19
Covid-19

How to apply for the Emergency Broadband Benefit in the U.S.

13 Aug 2021
Post
How to apply for the Emergency Broadband Benefit in the U.S.
13 Aug 2021
How to apply for the Emergency Broadband Benefit in the U.S.
Net Neutrality
Net Neutrality

Internet for all? Biden has a $100B vision

2 Apr 2021

Access Now applauds President Biden’s plan to allocate $100 billion to improve internet access in the United States.

Press Release
Internet for all? Biden has a $100B vision
2 Apr 2021
Internet for all? Biden has a $100B vision
Net Neutrality
Net Neutrality

Internet for all? A cure for the digital divide in the U.S.

11 Mar 2021

Access Now endorses the “Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act,” an important step towards ensuring everyone in the United States can get online.

Press Release
Internet for all? A cure for the digital divide in the U.S.
11 Mar 2021
Internet for all? A cure for the digital divide in the U.S.
Net Neutrality
Net Neutrality

U.S. FCC should quickly deliver Emergency Broadband Benefit to people in need

16 Feb 2021

Access Now and Free Press urge the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to immediately implement the Emergency Broadband Benefit program that Congress established in the pandemic-relief package.

Press Release
U.S. FCC should quickly deliver Emergency Broadband Benefit to people in need
16 Feb 2021
U.S. FCC should quickly deliver Emergency Broadband Benefit to people in need
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Civil society to FCC: make emergency broadband benefit easily accessible

25 Jan 2021

Access Now and Free Press filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission urging strong and rapid implementation of the Emergency Broadband Benefit program.

Press Release
Civil society to FCC: make emergency broadband benefit easily accessible
25 Jan 2021
Civil society to FCC: make emergency broadband benefit easily accessible
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Content Governance
Content Governance

Holding Biden to account: Access Now’s new tool tracks digital rights, tech policy

20 Jan 2021

On the day of Joe Biden’s inauguration, Access Now launches a new online tool to track how well the incoming administration addresses key digital rights issues, including data protection, net neutrality, disinformation, and facial recognition.

Press Release
Holding Biden to account: Access Now’s new tool tracks digital rights, tech policy
20 Jan 2021
Holding Biden to account: Access Now’s new tool tracks digital rights, tech policy
Net Neutrality
Net Neutrality

No longer turning blind eye, U.S. Congress finally moves to get people online amid pandemic

21 Dec 2020

Access Now applauds the U.S. Congress for coming to an agreement on a COVID-19 stimulus package that includes critical funding for broadband connectivity.

Press Release
No longer turning blind eye, U.S. Congress finally moves to get people online amid pandemic
21 Dec 2020
No longer turning blind eye, U.S. Congress finally moves to get people online amid pandemic
Net Neutrality
Net Neutrality

U.S. Senate Democrats and civil society denounce Simington nomination to FCC

7 Dec 2020

Members of the U.S. Congress and civil society representatives voice strong opposition to President Trump’s FCC nominee, Nathan Simington, whose appointment would threaten net neutrality protections, freedom of expression, and broadband access.

Press Release
U.S. Senate Democrats and civil society denounce Simington nomination to FCC
7 Dec 2020
U.S. Senate Democrats and civil society denounce Simington nomination to FCC
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Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

More than 3.5 billion left in the dark: why we’re still fighting to reach U.N. targets for internet access

5 Nov 2020

If we don’t reach U.N. targets for internet access — providing everyone, everywhere with affordable, open, secure, and high-quality connectivity — we won’t meet the sustainable development goals by 2030.  

Post
More than 3.5 billion left in the dark: why we’re still fighting to reach U.N. targets for internet access
5 Nov 2020
More than 3.5 billion left in the dark: why we’re still fighting to reach U.N. targets for internet access
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Closing the digital divide: new bill can get Indigenous populations online

15 Oct 2020

Access Now endorses the Extending Tribal Broadband Priority Act of 2020, legislation that would require the Federal Communications Commission to create additional time for Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations to apply for spectrum licenses.

Press Release
Closing the digital divide: new bill can get Indigenous populations online
15 Oct 2020
Closing the digital divide: new bill can get Indigenous populations online
Content Governance
Content Governance

Access Now publishes U.S. digital rights agenda

18 Aug 2020

Access Now releases its digital rights policy recommendations for the incoming U.S. president.

Press Release
Access Now publishes U.S. digital rights agenda
18 Aug 2020
Access Now publishes U.S. digital rights agenda