ABSTRACT
The rapid uptake and development of the Internet on a global basis in recent years has meant that it has become increasingly easy in principle to obtain and distribute data and information. From a global monitoring perspective, this offers the potential for increased data sharing and use, widespread dissemination of new scientific findings and wider discussion and analysis of new ideas. In addition, government initiatives designed to increase freedom of information and citizen participation have led to the development of e-government websites and data infrastructures, allowing wider access to government data and information. The Internet is often regarded as an ideal means for distributing data on an egalitarian basis to any interested parties, allowing widespread access at minimal cost. However, in reality the economic development of a country often governs its level of Internet connectivity, resulting in disparity between rich and poor in the ‘information economy’. This chapter discusses the increasing use of the Internet for data dissemination through the use of data portals and web services, and the implications of variable access to the Internet for less economically developed regions of the world.
