About the data
The WBA Digital Inclusion Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential companies on their efforts to advance digital inclusion, tracking how companies are expanding access to digital technologies, improving digital skills and literacy, and ensuring safe and inclusive digital environments for all. The 2026 edition assessed 200 companies across key sectors of the digital economy including telecommunications, software, hardware, and digital platforms. The benchmark is developed in close collaboration with an Expert Review Committee and partners including GRI, ITU, and the Alliance for Affordable Internet, with a methodology designed to incentivise companies to understand where digital exclusion risks are highest and act to bridge the digital divide, while keeping human rights and social impacts at its core.
More information can be found here.
More information can be found here.
Methodology
Digital literacy covers the proficiencies needed to carry out fundamental digital tasks, such as using a computer keyboard or smartphone touchscreen, managing privacy settings, sending emails, searching the web or filling out an online form. These skills allow users to communicate with others and access online commerce and public and financial services.xv Digital literacy also encompasses important security skills, such as protecting privacy, minimising the digital trail left on social media and elsewhere and distinguishing between fact and misinformation.
Without digital literacy, many people are unable to use digital technologies. This predominantly impacts women, people with no or little level of education, the elderly and low-income groups. The lack of digital literacy among vulnerable and marginalised groups is a missed opportunity for digital companies. It is in companies’ interest to support programmes that build the digital skills of these potential customers.
Research Guidance:
The company provides evidence of commitment to digital literacy for vulnerable groups through long-term investments, continued programme delivery, and/or institutional mechanisms that ensure continuity and scale over time. To meet this element, the company must provide evidence of one or more of the following:
- evidence that digital literacy is not treated as a short-term commitment or ad hoc issue, but rather as a core area of sustained social investment;
- evidence of having more than one programme running to support digital literacy;
- evidence of a multi-year roadmap and dedicated multi-year funding for supporting digital literacy for vulnerable groups.
Without digital literacy, many people are unable to use digital technologies. This predominantly impacts women, people with no or little level of education, the elderly and low-income groups. The lack of digital literacy among vulnerable and marginalised groups is a missed opportunity for digital companies. It is in companies’ interest to support programmes that build the digital skills of these potential customers.
Research Guidance:
The company provides evidence of commitment to digital literacy for vulnerable groups through long-term investments, continued programme delivery, and/or institutional mechanisms that ensure continuity and scale over time. To meet this element, the company must provide evidence of one or more of the following:
- evidence that digital literacy is not treated as a short-term commitment or ad hoc issue, but rather as a core area of sustained social investment;
- evidence of having more than one programme running to support digital literacy;
- evidence of a multi-year roadmap and dedicated multi-year funding for supporting digital literacy for vulnerable groups.
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Not Applicable
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report