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A Study on the Digital Divide through the On-Tact Experience in the COVID-19 Crisis

  • Journal of Human Rights Studies
  • Abbr : JHRS
  • 2021, 4(1), pp.1-45
  • DOI : 10.22976/JHRS.2021.4.1.1
  • Publisher : Korean Association of Human Rights Studies
  • Research Area : Social Science > Law > Law of Special Parts > Human Rights / International Human Rights Law
  • Received : May 19, 2021
  • Accepted : June 8, 2021
  • Published : June 30, 2021

Hyun Sook Kim 1 Hwang Hyemi 1

1숙명여자대학교

Candidate

ABSTRACT

This study looked at the non-face-to-face “on-tact” situation that rapidly spread during the COVID-19 period from the perspective of information human rights. First, theoretical discussions on information human rights, the right to access information, and the digital divide were reviewed. Although there is no clear international norm on information human rights, it is clear that the information society should be where human dignity is respected. In particular, after COVID-19, we have confirmed that the digital divide, such as access to information and ability to use it, is an important issue that is directly related to life along with inequality of opportunity. Next an interview survey was conducted targeting 14 single household members in their 30s and 70s who were working. We examined the participants' on-contact experiences, information access, and thoughts and countermeasures for digital divide in COVID-19 non-face-to-face daily life. According to the results of the study, all participants had and were using an information device. There was no problem with the quantitative digital divide. However, as the age of the participants increased, the level of using information devices decreased. This is similar to the results of previous studies. What was different from the previous study was that participants thought ‘on-tact’ would become common even if they did not like the “on-tact” environment after COVID-19. They thought they needed the ability to take advantage of information devices as non-face-to-face situations like Covid-19 could come again in the future. Participants did not explicitly state that the digital divide was a human rights issue. However, since the digital divide is recognized as a problem directly related to life and survival, it can be confirmed that it is linked to human rights issues.

Citation status

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