[Commlist] Digital Inclusion, Policy, and Research Conference (DIPRC)

Digital Inclusion, Policy, and Research Conference (DIPRC) 2022 - 20th 
September 2022

We live in an age that is highly saturated with digital technologies. 
These offer a range of considerable opportunities in terms of 
socialisation, work, entertainment, and participation in society. 
However, they also present risks ranging from digital exclusion, and 
issues of privacy and financial safety to misinformation and online 
abuse. There has also been an ever-growing reliance on digital 
technologies within our societies, accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic. 
People’s main channels of communication have now, either partly or 
entirely, transferred to digital services, platforms and apps. As a 
result, everyday life is increasingly mediated by the internet and 
digital devices. This might include working remotely, interacting with 
family and friends, using services relating to health, undertaking 
leisure activities, following the news, or engaging in community or 
political activities.

These changes make it essential to ensure that different populations and 
groups are provided with equal opportunities to use and benefit from the 
use of digital technologies.  However, issues of digital exclusion and 
inequalities are far from resolved in our societies and, because of the 
pandemic, may have become more pronounced. These issues require 
research, policy and practical interventions that can address these 
inequalities. On the one hand, they can ensure that the digital 
environment is deployed, designed and run by ‘big tech’ and government 
in ways that are safe, accessible, and affordable. On the other hand, 
they can directly support different groups, especially the most 
vulnerable, to thrive in the digital age.

Indeed, how platforms and digital services are run and managed are often 
called into question because of under-regulation and the affordances of 
digital technologies – what these do or do not enable users to do. 
Digital exclusion and inequalities can arise on multiple levels.  In 
terms of infrastructure and skills – from the rollout and pricing of 
digital infrastructure and services through to a lack of provision of 
educational and skills training.  Or in terms of the design of platforms 
and digital services. They are often designed, using algorithms aimed at 
providing personalised content and at boosting its visibility.  Though, 
it is now well established that algorithms potentially make it easy for 
issues of misinformation, polarisation, and online abuse to impact 
users. Very often issues of infrastructure, skills and online harm 
combine to further marginalise key groups or place them at greater risk.

These challenges lie at the intersection of research policy and practice 
around digital inequalities, inclusion, and literacies. These are at the 
heart of this fourth edition of the Digital Inclusion, Policy and 
Research Conference (DIPRC) 2022. As part of this conference, we invite 
scholars and practitioners to present their latest work on these topics. 
Questions that are particularly relevant to the conference include but 
are not limited to:

* Which groups are the most vulnerable and struggle the most in terms of 
access, and/or benefit from the use of, digital technologies? * How 
should different groups be provided with the support they need to 
develop digital and data literacy skills?
* How can key groups and communities use their knowledge to help them 
better navigate online risks and opportunities? * What types of policy 
and practical interventions are needed to tackle digital inequalities 
and promote digital literacy in our contemporary societies?
* How can different governments, regions, and local municipalities 
respond to challenges relating to digital inclusion and digital literacy?

The conference aims to focus on global, national and local developments 
in this area, emphasising research, policy, and practice. Digital 
inequities have become an important part of broader persistent issues of 
social equity and justice. Key themes of the conference include: * 
Material and financial access to digital technologies
* Digital literacy
* Use of digital technologies by citizens and communities
* impact of socio-economic factors on digital inclusion
* Users’ motivations to use, and attitudes towards, digital technologies
* Socio-economic and socio-cultural variations in patterns of usage

Submission Guidelines

The primary aim of this conference is to link up local, national and 
international policy efforts to address digital inequalities, access and 
literacy. The intention is to support sharing best practices and 
research insights. The conference will be a mix of invited presentations 
from policy and research colleagues, along with open paper sessions.

Abstracts should be no more than 300 words and should be submitted by: 
27th June 2022.

Please submit your abstract here: 
https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=diprc2022

List of Topics

For the open sessions, we seek presentations and papers that cover 
empirical research as well as policy and practice interventions, on 
topics such as:
* Data analysis of levels of digital inclusion/exclusion and engagement
* Case studies of initiatives and programmes
* Case studies of community impact
* Studies of the impacts of digital exclusion and inequalities
* Policy interventions to address digital inequalities
* Gaps in digital and data literacy skills and knowledge
* Policy and practical interventions that aim at promoting digital and 
data literacy
* How digital and data literacy can be deployed to navigate online risks 
and opportunities and overcome issues of misinformation and privacy
* Government, community and voluntary sector responses to digital 
literacy needs
* Digital platform use and 'big tech' practices in relation to issues of 
digital inequalities and literacy
* Community responses to the digital needs of different groups.

Please submit your abstract here: 
https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=diprc2022

Venue

The conference will be free to attend this year and held online - events 
will be scheduled to facilitate as far as possible attendance from all 
time zones.

Important dates

Date for submitting abstracts - 27th June 2022
Date for announcing acceptances - End of July 2022
Date for speakers to confirm participation - Mid August 2022 at the latest.

Contact

For questions and other inquiries please email Dr Gianfranco Polizzi – 
mailto:(G.Polizzi /at/ liverpool.ac.uk)?subject=DIPRC Query

We look forward to seeing you in September!

Sponsors

This conference is supported by the https://www.liverpool.ac.uk, the 
https://digitalpovertyalliance.org and the 
https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org via the 
"https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/humanities-and-social-sciences/research/research-themes/centre-for-digital-humanities/projects/digital-living-standard/"; 
project.

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