Overcoming Digital Inequality as a Growth Driver of Information Technologies in the 21st Century

Abstract

Despite many legal studies on equality and inequality as known, there are no comprehensive studies of digital inequality. Russian theoretical legal science has not yet developed a common equivalent of established term “digital divide”. The phrases “digital barrier”, “digital gap”, “digital hole”, etc. are in use. There is no uniform legal regulation of the information area and methodological approach; legal rules are imperfect and their inconsistency with modern realia and needs. It is important to understand that legal regulation is developing, but unfortunately, at slow pace. Purposes and objectives of research. The purpose of the research is to study the concept of digital inequality, forces and features bringing digital inequality. The authors set the following objectives: To explore the concept of “digital inequality” and the relationship with the concepts of “regional or territorial inequality”, “social inequality”; to examine criteria required for assessment of “digital inequality” and related to access to information technologies; to determine our position on debatable issues arising in course of the study. Findings. In the Russian Federation we see a shift from commodity policy and economy to innovation one. For integration into the global economy, one need to pay an increased attention to elimination of digital inequality. To achieve this purpose, it is necessary to adopt special regulatory enactments that would establish guarantees of digital equality for all citizens as well as support for those who need government support.