E-Colonialism - The New Challenge of the 21st Century

摘要

The twenty first century promises to be one in which the full significance of global automation of information will be felt and with this will come the various effects of e-colonialism. While the Internet facilitates the sharing of information globally, it also threatens cultural diversity, the loss of local culture and the manipulation of the less developed. The impact of e-colonialism can potentially be just as devastating as that of mercantile colonialism in the nineteenth century. The solution does not lie in restricting the spread of information technology. The information revolution has brought numerous benefits to society and any attempts to eradicate the Internet would be counterproductive. What is required are strategies to confront the issues presented by e-colonialism by bridging the technological divide created by the information revolution through improved technological access to the developing world. The 'colonization' of the technologically poor must be impeded by improving the accessibility of the Internet across and between nations to ensure that no one is left behind in the global movement towards technological advancement.