A new report from the national auditor general has called on the Scottish Government to do more to tackle an issue that could hamper vulnerable citizens in exercising their rights
A new report from Scotland’s auditor general shows one in six adults in the country lack the digital skills needed for everyday life, and warns that this could be impacting their human rights.
The report says that public bodies that have taken a “digital by default” or “digital first” approach when implementing new services in Scotland, but that his approach has not “sufficiently considered the needs of people who are digitally excluded”.
People unable to access public services because of a lack of digital access are at risk of “not being able to fully realise their human rights”, the report adds. The rights at risk may include the rights to education, a fair trial, protection from discrimination, social security, and to receive and impart information.
For example, an individual’s Universal Credit could be sanctioned because of delays in updating their online journal due to lack of access to the internet. This would infringe on the individual’s right to access social security and receive and impart information.
About 15% of adults lack the necessary skills to use devices like a computer, tablet or mobile phone and find information on the internet. This group also lacks knowledge in how to communicate socially and professionally on social media and access online banking services, researchers found.
“Digital technology is at the heart of public service reform,” said Stephen Boyle, the auditor general for Scotland. “Increasing efficiency is vital to ensure services can be delivered cost-efficiently, at a time of ever-intensifying budget and service pressures. The Scottish Government must have clear actions to tackle and mitigate the impacts of digital exclusion.”
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By failing to do so it, “risks marginalising the most vulnerable people in our communities,” he added.
The report said: “Online public services do not always consider the needs of people without digital access, which may put their rights at risk.”
In a 2022 Ofcom survey, 51% of people who do not have access to the internet at home reported having a disability, 72% were elderly and 55% were in the most deprived socio-economic group.
“I feel like there is a lot going on and I just can’t be a part of it,” said a focus group attendee for Audit Scotland when asked about digital exclusion. “It’s not that I don’t want to be a part of it, I just don’t know how to get started and everything will just continue on without me.”
A Scottish Government survey in 2022 showed that only 69% of households in Scotland earning £10,000 or less have access to the internet. This is in contrast to households that have an annual income of over £40,000, where internet access is at 99%.
In 2020, during the Covid pandemic, the Scottish Government invested £50m to provide access to devices, data and training for people who lack the digital skills needed for everyday life. This allowed over 61,000 households to get online, targeting people at high risk of Covid-19, young care leavers, families with children, socially isolated older and disabled people and low-income households. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations implemented the programme in tandem with all 32 councils and over 1,000 organisations.
Since then, the report said “momentum has slowed” in the uptake of skills due to weakened national leadership and less funding.
“Councils across Scotland, working collaboratively with local public, private and third sector partners, must be clearer about how they will reduce digital exclusion in their local area,” said Nichola Brown, a member of the Accounts Commission.
The report recommends that the Scottish Government “set out their ambitions for tackling digital exclusion in a refreshed digital strategy” and “develop a clear action plan for reducing digital exclusion.” The report recommends the government collaborate with volunteer organisations and the public and private sectors to set up a “community of learning” focusing on combatting digital exclusion.
This story originally appeared on PublicTechnology sister publication Holyrood
