Policymakers should rely on high-quality data to underpin evidence-based policy decisions. In this context, monitoring the development of information societies to promote evidence-based policymaking requires the development of internationally agreed ICT indicators. Thus, measurement can be considered a critical activity, not only for generating relevant information for ICT policies (before and after the policy was taken), but also for designing effective Internet Governance strategies.
Despite the growing debate on measurement of Internet access and use – in part as an outcome of initiatives such as the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development, there is a lack of systematic and reliable ICT statistics, expressed, for instance, by the lack, in several nations, of data that can be used to measure the development of information societies across the globe.
At the same time, it is important to continuously revise existing indicators. The Internet is a fast moving subject. It is thus increasingly important that indicators reflect its dynamics and provide more in-depth analysis, focusing in understanding barriers for not using the Internet and the digital inequalities among people who are already online. Similarly, research agenda must also address diversity issues, such as socioeconomic status, age, level of education, gender and accessibility.
The objective of this panel is to discuss the production and use of internationally comparable ICT-statistics from a multi-stakeholder perspective, focusing on the contribution of different data producers and users in measuring the socioeconomic implications of ICTs. Panelists are expected to identify best practices in data production and in bridging the gap between availability of statistics and evidence-based policymaking.
