Publication: Digital exclusion - audit scope

Digital technology plays an increasing role in our lives. The Covid-19 pandemic greatly accelerated the speed of public services moving online and saw a marked increase in the overall use of digital technology. But as our reliance on technology increases, so too do the risks that people who don’t use it will lose out.  

Research shows that digital exclusion is strongly linked with poverty and other forms of inequality, but there is a lack of a complete picture of who is affected by it and how. To explore this important issue, the Auditor General for Scotland and Accounts Commission will be carrying out a joint audit on digital exclusion during 2023/24.  

The audit will look at how well public bodies are tackling digital exclusion, how it affects access to services and the impact this has on people in Scotland, and their human rights. This will include engaging with people who have lived experience of being digitally excluded. 

We want this audit to improve understanding of digital exclusion, identify who is affected by it and what it means for people’s human rights. It will support improvement through making recommendations and identifying innovative or positive practice in tackling digital exclusion.