Internet...Why and What For?

Internet projects in Latin America and the Caribbean need to go beyond connectivity and technology to make meaningful contributions to development, say the authors of a new report on the internet and development.

This publication synthesises the experiences of about 50 IDRC-funded information and communication technology (ICT) projects since 1997, worth more than CA$4 million.

Connecting the masses is not by itself enough to foster democracy. According to Dr Martinez, a social vision of the Internet in Latin America has to involve three things: equitable access, which involves basic training and reasonably priced connections; an ability to make meaningful use of ICTs; and social appropriation - ICTs should help people solve concrete problems and transform current realities. Otherwise, ICTs will just reproduce and increase the social divide.