Commodification of Information and its Implication for Equitable Access to Information and Sustainable Development

Abstract

The United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs), an agenda to transform our world is achievable when people have access to quality information to take action across goals of the agenda. Conversely, inequality in the access to information, which could be as a result of information monetization possess a threat to the realization of the development agenda. Consequently, this study theoretically examined the justification of information commodification. It thereafter established a relationship between commodification and equitable access to information. The study also explored how commodification of information can threaten the actualization of SDGs. Based on the understanding that commodification is a value concept and the cost of information production, the study proposes some measures as way forward in finding an intersection between commodification and equitable access to information, in a manner that will not compromise sustainable development.