Find out more about Cetic.br

Since 2005, the mission of the Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br), a department of the Brazilian Network Information Center (NIC.br), linked to the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee (CGI.br), has been to monitor access to and use and appropriation of information and communication technologies in Brazil. It fulfills this objective through the production of indicators on ICT access, use and appropriation in various segments of society. This data serves as input for policymaking and monitoring public policies that contribute to Internet development in the country.

In 2012, Cetic.br became a Category 2 Center of Unesco, the first center related to the development of information and knowledge societies. Linked to the Communication and Information sector of Unesco, it contributes to the realization of strategic goals of the institution, combining forces to monitor the construction of information and knowledge societies. Its regional scope of operation includes countries in Latin America and Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa.

The lines of action of Cetic.br encompass activities that contribute to discussion of the importance of measuring ICT for public policies and sharing of experiences among key players who study the intersection of themes on society and technology and their implications for the building of knowledge societies.

Capacity-Building Programs on Survey Methodologies

This line of action focuses on capacity-building programs on survey methodologies for the production of ICT-related statistics and indicators. These programs are conducted with the goal of improving the availability and quality of ICT statistics and fostering the production of internationally comparable data on access to and use of the Internet. This line of action is also intended to raise awareness among stakeholders of the role of data in evidence-based policymaking in the context of the development of information and knowledge societies.

Knowledge Center

This line of action seeks to produce data through quantitative and qualitative research on ICT, as well as disseminate information and knowledge, including survey methodologies, indicators, data analyses and thematic ICT publications that contribute to the building of inclusive information and knowledge societies.

Laboratory of Ideas

Cetic.br also serves as a multi-stakeholder platform aimed at sharing experiences and encouraging discussion among key stakeholders on the challenges of measuring ICT and on emerging issues related to the development of information and knowledge societies. Cetic.br promotes public debate, lectures and discussion panels with renowned experts from government, academia, international organizations and civil society organizations in order to explore the socioeconomic impacts of ICT. The activities of the Laboratory of Ideas guarantee transparency and give legitimacy to all the other lines of action conducted by the Center.

Culture and Ethics on the Internet

The social dimension of the Internet has drawn attention to topics such as culture and ethics in the online environment. With regard to ethics on the Internet, privacy and online safety, the Center not only produces data on these important topics, but also engages in workshops and the creation of guidelines to raise awareness among parents, educators and users in general about such issues. The ICT in Culture survey also reinforces the Center’s commitment to studying intersections between the Internet and culture.