Page 510 - Kaleidoscope Academic Conference Proceedings 2024

Session 9: Social, economic, environmental and policy aspects for sustainable development
S9.1 Unlocking Access: The Role of Refurbished Mobile Phones in Digital Inclusion and Sustainable
Development
Diksha Dhiman, Kuldeep Kuldeep, Amarjeet Kumar, Kase Subha sai and Ajay Wavhale

(Government of India, India)

In today's digital era, access to technology and internet connectivity is vital for socioeconomic
progress. Despite significant progress in technical methods of providing connectivity, a digital
divide persists, hindering equal access to digital resources. Refurbished mobile phones offer a
solution by providing affordable access to technology to economically disadvantaged people.
Through refurbishment, used phones are restored to like-new condition, reducing e-waste and
extending their lifespan. This aligns with Sustainable Development Goals by promoting
responsible consumption and reducing inequalities. Environmental assessments show significant
benefits, with refurbished phones reducing up to 87% of environmental impact. However,
concerns remain about performance and reliability. This research aims to address these concerns
by analyzing refurbishment processes and establishing trust standards. It explores the potential of
the refurbished phone market for digital inclusion, discussing regulatory considerations and role
of government in stimulating market growth. The paper examines benefits for companies and
consumers, along with challenges and proposed solutions, ultimately aiming to enhance digital
inclusion.

S9.2 Advancing Trustworthy AI for Sustainable Development: Recommendations for Standardising AI
Incident Reporting

Avinash Agarwal (Ministry of Communications, Government of India, India); Manisha Jitendra
Nene (Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, India)

The increasing use of AI technologies has led to increasing AI incidents, posing risks and causing
harm to individuals, organisations, and society. This study recognises and addresses the lack of
standardised protocols for reliably and comprehensively gathering such incident data crucial for
preventing future incidents and developing mitigating strategies. Specifically, this study analyses
existing open-access AI-incident databases through a systematic methodology and identifies nine
gaps in current AI incident reporting practices. Further, it proposes nine actionable
recommendations to enhance standardisation efforts to address these gaps. Ensuring the
trustworthiness of enabling technologies such as AI is necessary for sustainable digital
transformation. Our research promotes the development of standards to prevent future AI incidents
and promote trustworthy AI, thus facilitating achieving the UN sustainable development goals.
Through international cooperation, stakeholders can unlock the transformative potential of AI,
enabling a sustainable and inclusive future for all.
Modeling Internet Use in the Global Development Context: Preliminary Findings and Future
S9.3
Directions
Katelyn Lynch (Arizona State University, USA)

This investigation leverages Amartya Sen's capability approach to assess the determinants of
internet use across diverse global contexts, focusing on equality, education, economics, health,
and governance. Utilizing data from 104 countries, the study employs both simple and multiple
regression analyses to pinpoint which factors most strongly influence internet access. Findings
indicate that educational factors, particularly mean years of schooling, are more predictive of
internet use than economic variables. The results support a holistic view of development, where
enhancing educational opportunities and infrastructure, rather than merely reducing costs, could
significantly increase internet accessibility and use. The study advances the discourse in ICT4D
by demonstrating the potential of a capabilities-focused approach to technology adoption and use.

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