The Aboriginal community and continuing a legacy in a digital age

As we celebrated "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy" earlier this year, my thoughts are firmly with the young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders shaping their communities. I believe, unequivocally, that in our digital-first future, technology must be a force that supports and amplifies, rather than erodes, their rich cultural identities, particularly concerning language and access.

This year offers a unique chance to reflect on how we can better serve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, both now and in the future. It's about safeguarding invaluable heritage for all Australians.

Acknowledging history's ripple effects & the digital divide

Having worked in internet governance for decades, I've seen firsthand how crucial digital access is. Yet, the persistent digital divide impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, one of the world's oldest civilizations, is a stark reminder of the work ahead. Their heritage faces unique challenges, and tragically, digital technology, despite its benefits, has sometimes inadvertently accelerated the threat to their languages and traditions.

While access to the internet has improved over the past few years, there is still a considerable digital gap between First Nations and non-First Nations people in Australia. The barriers are clear:

• Access: Many remote communities from the Red Centre to the Top End still lack the reliable  internet access needed for essential online services like banking, education, and health. We must also acknowledge that current technological advancements often fail to accommodate Elders and those with lower incomes.
• Language: The internet's overwhelming English dominance creates an immense challenge. For those who wish to communicate or learn in native languages, this digital imbalance creates exclusion. When 90% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages were considered endangered as of 2019, the risk of digital exclusion for these vital cultural expressions became a personal concern for me. Limiting access to digital tools and global information in native tongues, left unchecked, can result in the erosion of culture in the digital world.

This digital divide could widen with the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). We are already seeing information presented in English, Spanish and Mandarin prioritised over many others - while languages like Yumplatok, Tiwi, or Ngunnawal remain virtually absent.  If this continues, tools such as ChatGPT will remain inaccessible to Indigenous Australians who think, learn, or create best in their native tongues.

My vision: Surfing the Tech Tides with Universal Acceptance

Despite these hurdles, I am continually inspired by the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth. Their digital agility, using technology to document heritage and assert online identity, is powerful. But this crucial task cannot rest solely on their shoulders. Larger technology players - including those of us in the internet infrastructure community must actively meet these groups where they are, by designing processes that genuinely accommodate their mission of cultural preservation and growth. It's about giving them a fair go in the digital realm.

My personal advocacy for over 25 years has centered on Universal Acceptance (UA), a concept I'm proud to have coined. UA embodies the principle that all domain names and email addresses, like weare.tiwi or marli@bouddi.au, must seamlessly function across any internet-connected device or software, free from discrimination or technical hurdles. This isn't just technical; it's profoundly cultural and essential for Australia's digital future.

Universal Acceptance is vital for:

• Intergenerational Knowledge Transmission: Creating pathways for stories and traditions to flow freely within and between Indigenous communities. As the late Elder Uncle Willie Thaiday said, "Strong culture, strong people." It's a powerful statement about identity, resilience, and community empowerment.
• Cultural Growth: Empowering youth to document Elders' wisdom and build upon it, ensuring that traditions evolve and thrive in digital spaces. . This is, in essence, a modern, digitally-based form of traditional preservation and expansion that will help their descendants access their culture as a means to build on their heritage.

Unlocking the future

I am profoundly hopeful about achieving true digital inclusion, and I'm putting that hope into action. At Identity Digital, we are playing our part by co-founding the Coalition on Digital Impact (CODI). This  alliance of advocacy groups, public interest organizations, and major technology and internet companies is specifically designed to bridge the gap between the world's 7,000+ languages and the mere 10 that currently dominate the web. This is a direct aim to tackle digital inequity, striving for a truly inclusive internet for all Australians, not just those speaking dominant languages.

More than anything, I am excited to witness what the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders will draw from their deep roots and reseed for their futures. Their legacy is certain to leave an indelible mark on the globe, and my commitment, along with Identity Digital's, is to tirelessly advocate for major tech companies to internationalize their systems. The key to truly unlocking this inclusive future lies in the widespread adoption of Universal Acceptance across the World Wide Web and beyond. I believe we have the power, and the responsibility, to make this happen for a truly connected and culturally rich Australia.