Although data has become the new currency, driving decisions, innovations, and economic growth, Open Data initiatives seem to have stalled in the Caribbean region. In this article, we highlight key benefits and challenges of fostering Open Data in the region.
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Several Caribbean countries have recognised the potential of smart city and smart island concepts, but nearly a decade on, they seem to have made very little progress. In this article, we discuss key challenges that Caribbean countries face in trying to create smart cities.
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Starting on 21 August 2024, we are just days away from the 20th Caribbean Internet Governance Forum, the longest-running Internet Governance Forum in the world! With Nigel Cassimire, the Deputy Secretary General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union and Coordinator of the Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF), we get an update on the Internet Governance space and the CIGF. During our conversation with Nigel, he shared: how Internet Governance and the conversations on IG have been evolving; the most prominent or topical issues in the IG space currently; the likely focus areas of the upcoming CIGF; and whether there are any specific issues the Caribbean region ought to be focusing on.
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Across the Caribbean region, most countries are embarking on projects to implement a digital ID system. Although there are considerable national benefits to doing so, improving and increasing citizens’ access such as a broad range of services, digital IDs is a complex exercise. We revisit a 2022 interview with Trevor Forrest, of 876 Solutions on the subject, where we discuss: Why is it becoming increasingly important to have a digital ID? What are the benefits of having a digital ID? What can countries do to develop trust in digital ID? And what are the potential benefits and implications of heightened surveillance via digital IDs?
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In our third instalment of the series, The internet we should want in 2024 and beyond, Matthew Cowen of dgtlfutures, shares his thoughts on the subject. Though the topic is broad, our conversation touches on, among other things: social media; the state of advertising on the Internet; major trends or technological advancements that are shaping the internet today; and current and emerging challenges regarding the internet of which we should be more aware.
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