India’s Supreme Court has now ruled that digital access is a fundamental right, integral to the right to life and liberty.
The court directed the government to bridge the digital divide, particularly for rural populations, senior citizens, economically weaker communities, linguistic minorities, and people with disability.
The ruling emphasises the need for inclusive digital transformation, highlighting unequal access to digital infrastructure, skills, and content. The court ordered revisions to the current Know Your Customer (KYC) process to ensure accessibility for users who are blind or with low vision, including the development of alternative formats such as Braille and voice-enabled services.
The Supreme Court’s decision highlights the importance of reinterpreting the right to life in light of technological advancements, ensuring that digital governance and services are accessible to all.
This ruling may also have implications for countries like Australia, where similar digital divides exist and efforts to promote digital inclusion are ongoing. While specific to India’s context, the ruling serves as an example for other countries, including Australia, to consider the importance of digital inclusion and accessibility in their own governance and service delivery frameworks.
To find out more information, please read the Economic Times’ article on India’s Supreme Court’s new ruling on the digital divide.