As we launch the latest findings from the Data Poverty Lab, we’re reflecting on the journey we’ve been on to identify and tackle the challenges faced by those experiencing digital exclusion – and what’s next for this joint mission with our partners and peers.

In 2021, Nominet partnered with Good Things Foundation to co-found the Data Poverty Lab. Our goal was to find sustainable, scalable solutions to data poverty in the UK – a growing issue where people can’t afford the internet access they need for everyday life. It was born out of a shared frustration during the pandemic, when digital exclusion emerged as having a huge impact on people’s lives across the UK, with a distinct lack of realistic, workable solutions.

The Lab acts as a think-and-do tank, bringing together researchers, policymakers, community leaders, and tech innovators to investigate the root causes and impacts of data poverty. Through the Lab, stakeholders test and scale practical solutions, and promote systemic change by embedding digital access into public services and anti-poverty strategies.

It’s a space for bold ideas and collaborative action, aiming to ensure that no one is left behind. We’re proud that the Data Poverty Lab has had a real and tangible impact on people’s lives across the UK – especially those most at risk of digital exclusion.

This is how it’s made a difference: 

• People who once had to stand outside shops to access free Wi-Fi can now connect from home. Thanks to initiatives born from the Data Poverty Lab, like the National Databank, individuals can make GP appointments, apply for jobs, and stay in touch with loved ones without worrying about running out of data. 
• A dedicated report from the Lab revealed how care-experienced young people were being left behind due to lack of connectivity. The Lab’s work helped spotlight their needs and advocate for targeted support, ensuring they don’t miss out on education, creativity, and community. 
• It’s introduced new models and ways of thinking about the challenge and ultimately raised data poverty – and the voices of people it impacts – as an issue at a national level. We’ve seen how this work has influenced important initiatives, such as the Government’s Digital Action Inclusion Plan, and acted as a catalyst for change.

But now we stand on the brink of another transformation. As technologies such as AI promise to accelerate progress for those on the right side of the digital divide, it can leave others even further behind. Unless we can act faster and be bolder with the solutions that really work for those who are excluded, the digital divide will be an even larger gap to bridge.

Our new report, the latest from the Data Poverty Lab, explores the role of innovation – both technological and systemic – in tackling data poverty. 

It seeks to understand who needs to be part of the innovation process to build a future where data poverty doesn’t exist. We’re bringing together technical experts, product development specialists, policy makers, academics and third sector professionals to explore sustainable interventions that can tackle data poverty permanently. While initiatives like the National Databank provide emergency relief, our aim is to develop long-term solutions that fundamentally transform digital access. It’s a call to arms for progressive thinkers to come together, evaluate potential solutions, and be brave enough to imagine approaches we haven’t yet considered.

This collaborative effort has been critical to informing the findings of this report and for what’s next for the Lab. Because data poverty is a new, emerging social issue, we still have a window to reshape how it impacts everyone in the UK. We’re not just looking to modify existing systems, but to reimagine what a truly inclusive digital future could look like. Access to healthcare, education, jobs, training, and our connections with local or digital communities shouldn’t be dictated by how affordable it is for us to connect to the internet. Innovation starts with imagining the shared future of digital inclusion we want and building new routes to travel there.  

To read the report in full and find out more about social strategies that can bridge the digital divide, visit the Good Things Foundation website.