Comparative study of inequalities and digital policies in Argentina before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

This article presents a national study on the perceptions of local representatives from the state, market, and social and community organizations regarding access to digital rights in Argentina before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was conducted within the framework of the Argentine Network of Researchers in Communication and Culture with a Focus on Rights (RAICCED, for its acronyms in Spanish). The analysis was based on information collected through interviews with key informants from six regions of Argentina (Northwest, Northeast, Center, Cuyo, Metropolitan, and Patagonia) and is structured according to the axes of inequalities, implemented policies, and obstacles that have hindered the full exercise and enjoyment of digital rights during the different periods mentioned. The research concludes that without state intervention, digital divides not only perpetuate but worsen. Digital equity cannot be resolved solely by the market. It is essential to rebuild a public policy framework that integrates state, private, and social actors based on rights.