Herman T. Tavani
Ethical reflections on the digital divide
Rivier University
past decade fairly extensive literature digital divide emerged many reports studies provided statistical data digital divide network 2002 ntia 1995 1998 1999 2000 pertaining sociological aspects divide studies examined policy issues involving universal service camp tsong 2001 universal access brewer chuter 2002 studies suggested ways digital divide could better understood reconceptualized terms alternative metaphor eg divide literacy warschauer 2002 power moss 2002 content carvin 2000 information environment floridi 2001 however exception johnson 2001 koehler 2002 authors tended question least directly whether digital divide bottom ethical issue many authors seem assume disparities involving access computing technology exist issues underlying digital divide necessarily moral nature many assume particular divide something digital technological nature best understood computer ethical issue present study examines assumptions considers four questions 1 exactly digital divide 2 divide ultimately ethical issue 3 assuming answer 2 yes digital divide necessarily issue computer ethics 4 answer 3 yes canshould computer professionals bridge digital divide