Electronic government and meaningful connectivity levels: Who is really positioned to benefit from digital transformation in government?

Based on the concept of meaningful connectivity, this paper aims to discuss the conditions of access and use of e-government services. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the concept of meaningful connectivity has distinguished itself by focusing on the connectivity conditions necessary to enable everyone to benefit from the Internet. In this sense, international organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union () and the Affordable Internet for All (A4AI) have endorsed this concept, understanding that there are minimum connectivity conditions to be achieved in order to not exclude a part of the population from the digital transformation. For this purpose, data from the Survey on the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Brazilian Households are analyzed by gender, race or color, and social class. The results show the differences between individuals from these social groups in terms of connectivity conditions. Those who could benefit the most are those with the lowest meaningful connectivity scores. In this sense, the data presented provides a more detailed portrait of the users of e-government services in Brazil.