Does Internet connectivity guarantee digital empowerment?
The second session of NetMission Academy 2026, titled “Access & Empowerment,” examined the social, political, and structural dimensions of digital access and the conditions required for meaningful digital inclusion. Moderated by Nawal Munir, Fatima Munir, and Jenie Fernando, the session brought together participants from across the Asia-Pacific region and featured two expert speakers:
Waqas Hassan, a policy and advocacy leader specializing in inclusive digital policy development and gender-responsive strategies, currently serving as Vice-Chair of the Asia-Pacific School on Internet Governance (APSIG); and,
Dr. Rakesh Kriplani, a pioneer of Cyber Psychology in India and the Asia-Pacific region, whose work examines the intersection of human behavior, digital wellness, and security.
Through expert inputs, participant-led case studies, and breakout discussions, the session emphasized that access to digital technologies alone does not guarantee empowerment.
Understanding Digital Access Beyond Connectivity
The session opened with a discussion on the global digital divide by Sub Group # 2 members, highlighting that approximately 2.9 billion people remain offline worldwide due to barriers such as affordability, infrastructure gaps, geographic isolation, disability, and language. Participants stressed that even where connectivity exists, digital systems often fail to empower users because of exclusionary design, lack of accessibility, and weak accountability mechanisms.
Approaches to sustainable connectivity discussed included community-led networks, satellite-based Internet solutions for remote and disaster-prone areas, and renewable energy-powered infrastructure such as solar micro-towers. The importance of public broadband initiatives, assistive technologies, and local-language digital services was emphasized to ensure access translates into meaningful participation.
Case Study 1: Digital Exclusion of Farmers in Rural India
The first case study examined the digital exclusion of smallholder farmers in rural India, where digitized welfare and agricultural services have not resulted in equitable access. Nearly 150 million farmers remain excluded due to low digital literacy, language barriers, poor connectivity, and documentation requirements. After the 2025 Punjab floods, over 400 farmers were unable to access compensation because essential physical documents had been lost.
Gender disparities were a key concern, with only 35% of women farmers having Internet access compared to 58% of men. Inaccessible digital portals and social norms further limit women’s participation, contributing to an estimated ₹90,000 crore annual subsidy gap and reinforcing structural inequalities.
Case Study 2: Internet Censorship and Governance in China
The second case study focused on Internet censorship and digital governance in China, examining the impact of platform restrictions, the Great Firewall, and real-name registration policies. These measures limit access to information, restrict freedom of expression, and increase surveillance and self-censorship.
Participants noted that while some users rely on dark web tools to bypass restrictions, this creates a two-tier digital divide that privileges those with technical knowledge. The case study highlighted that connectivity without openness and rights-based safeguards does not lead to genuine empowerment.
Speaker Sharing
- Hassan emphasized the importance of policy-by-design in shaping inclusive and rights-respecting digital systems. He highlighted that governments are increasingly consulting stakeholders during policy formulation, but stressed that youth participation remains largely symbolic rather than substantive. As digital natives and primary users of online platforms, youth possess lived experience and practical insights into how digital identity systems, online payment mechanisms, and governance frameworks function in reality. Hasan noted that excluding youth from early policy design risks reinforcing top-down, surveillance-heavy systems that prioritize control over trust. He further underscored the challenges faced by developing countries in balancing rapid digital transformation with the protection of digital rights, cautioning that openness without safeguards can deepen inequalities, while excessive regulation can erode participation and innovation.
- Dr. Kriplani, a cyber psychologist, focused on the psychological and social impacts of surveillance and identity-linked digital systems, particularly on marginalized communities. He explained that while identity verification mechanisms can enhance safety and accountability, they also introduce risks of digital dependency, reduced autonomy, and self-censorship. Excessive monitoring can discourage individuals, especially youth, farmers, and vulnerable groups—from fully engaging online due to fear of surveillance or misuse of data. Dr. Kriplani also highlighted how trust in digital systems is shaped by users’ perceptions of consent, transparency, and control over personal information. Drawing from the Indian context, he noted that colonial-era regulatory frameworks continue to influence contemporary Internet governance, reinforcing restrictive approaches to access and surveillance. He concluded by emphasizing the need for privacy-by-design, digital literacy, and inclusive governance models that balance safety with dignity, consent, and meaningful participation.
Breakout Group Discussions
Participants were divided into two breakout groups to reflect on the session’s themes and propose solutions. Key discussion points included:
- Access vs. Empowerment: groups emphasized that connectivity must be accompanied by digital literacy, accessible design, and user trust to be empowering.
- Community-Centered Solutions: participants highlighted the role of community networks, local governance, and grassroots initiatives in addressing access gaps.
- Breakout groups raised concerns about surveillance-heavy digital systems and stressed the importance of transparency, consent, and proportionality.
- Groups reiterated the need to meaningfully include youth and marginalized communities in policy-making processes rather than treating them as passive beneficiaries.
Participants agreed that digital access policies should be grounded in human rights principles and shaped through multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Contributed by:
Shweta, Amisha Mittal, Eow Shiang Yen, Abubakar Kamal, Emaan malik, Amrita Adhikari
Edited by:
Nawal Munir