Civic tech can't make the impact it needs to if those working in the sector don't understand that more than half of the world's population doesn't use the internet. Blending my knowledge of digital exclusion, digital inclusion and the digital divide, and my time on the Speaker's Commission for Digital Democracy, this speech asks some difficult questions about how we can work in partnership to make real impact for the people who need better democracies and better lives.

1. Helen Milner OBE
Chief Executive, Tinder Foundation
Commissioner, Speaker’s Commission on Digital Democracy
@helenmilner
helen@tinderfoundation.com
The Digital Divide: Civic Tech is
leaving 4 billion people behind

2. 2
4,207,692,038

3. 3

4. A world where everyone
benefits from digital

7. 7

8. 8

9. 9
Access isn’t enough

10. 10
Digital literacy isn’t
enough

12. For example
“I can upload an
attachment
in email”
“I use email to
apply for jobs”
“I get a job,
I have more
money, I am
more
confident”

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Local + Digital
Blend of face-to-face support +
online tools

14. 5000 local UK partners, 25,000 volunteers
A big club with a shared vision

15. www.learnmyway.com
Free

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We measure and
evaluate everything
we do

17. How do we measure our impact?
• Digital Outcomes: confident and independent
internet users; people are more motivated to be
online and understand how they can personally
benefit
• Economic Outcomes: able to manage money
better & have more money; more employable;
more entrepreneurial
• Health & Social Outcomes: healthier; less isolated;
more connected to community; more able to
participate; better informed; more confident

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19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tABiuQcfxtc
Social challenges, digital solutions: stories on tackling
worklessness, managing long term health, community
cohesion through language, tackling challenges to
homelessness
Measuring impact through stories
Watch 2 min film:

21. Open up!
Report of the Speaker’s Commission on Digital Democracy
Published: 26 Jan 2015

22. Open up!
Report of the Speaker’s Commission on Digital Democracy
Published: 26 Jan 2015

23. Open up!
Report of the Speaker’s Commission on Digital Democracy
Published: 26 Jan 2015

24. 30 million35 million
UK Facebook Users UK 2015 General
Election Turnout

25. Five headline recommendations
1. By 2020, the House of Commons should ensure that everyone
can understand what it does.
2. By 2020, Parliament should be fully interactive and digital.
3. The 2015 newly elected House of Commons should create
immediately a new forum for public participation in the
debating function of the House of Commons.
4. By 2020, secure online voting should be an option for all voters.
5. By 2016, all published information and broadcast footage
produced by Parliament should be freely available online in
formats suitable for reuse. Hansard should be available as open
data by the end of 2015.

26. Some good news since report
» Parliamentary Digital Service set up
» E-Petitions new site and clear processes
» 100,000 signatures considered for debate in
Parliament
» Heatmap - petition signatures ‘near you’
» Westminster Hall - “Cyber Chambers”
» Transparency: Open Hansard
hansard.digiminster.com
26

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BUT …

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Who makes the
decisions that affect
you?

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Who has the power,
and are they willing to
share it?

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A digital tool can fix that
…..
What’s the problem?

31. politically active
digitally active
digitally not active
politically not active
?x

32. politically active
digitally active
digitally not active
politically not active
?x
Better for the
already
engaged?

33. For real action
Informed
Involved
Included
Engaged
Interaction
33

34. The reality …
» Without systemic change MPs (elected
representatives) will get overwhelmed
» Need better digital tools to help them
» Need to want to do democracy differently
» Need more multi-sector partnerships
34

35. This stuff is hard
» Democracy must be about more than elections
… real and ongoing engagement
» Digital isn’t a silver bullet
» Need systems and culture change
35

36. It’s about people
» Real change happens through co-creation that
involves those in power and those with the
least power
» Digital can help the culture change that’s
required
» do more out in the open
» more collaboration
» more co-ownership, co-design, co-fund
36

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» Tinder Foundation experience .. not
digital alone, face-to-face important too
Local + Digital
Blend of face-to-face + online tools

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4,207,692,038

39. Thank You
helen@tinderfoundation.org
@helenmilner on twitter
www.tinderfoundation.org
www.learnmyway.com