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information society

 and stimulating people’s moti-

vation and ability to participate (reducing social exclusion); increasing  socio-  economic 

benefits and enhancing the role of Europe in influencing the global information society. 

Information society was defined by the UK INSINC working party on social inclusion in 

the information society in 1997 as:

A society characterised by a high level of information intensity in the everyday life of most 

citizens, in most organisations and workplaces; by the use of common or compatible tech-

nology for a wide range of personal, social, educational and business activities; and by the 

ability to transmit and receive digital data rapidly between places irrespective of distance.

● 

UNESCO has also been active in advancing the information society in less developed 

countries (

http:// portal.unesco.org/ci

).

● 

The European Community has set up ‘i2010’ (European Information Society in 2010) 

whose aims include:

providing an integrated approach to information society and  audio-  visual policies in the 

EU, covering regulation, research, and deployment and promoting cultural diversity. 

(eEurope, 2005)

● 

In 1998, new data protection guidelines were enacted to help protect consumers and 

increase the adoption of e-commerce by reducing security fears. Since 2000,  cross-  Europe 

laws have been enacted to control online consumer privacy, electronic selling and taxation.

Booz Allen Hamilton (2002) review approaches used by governments to encourage use of the 

Internet. They identify five broad themes in policy: