Many people see technology as the problem behind the so-called digital divide. Others see it as the solution. Technology is neither. It must operate in conjunction with business, economic, political and social system.

Fiorina frames the “digital divide” as a systemic problem rather than a purely technical one. By rejecting the idea that technology is either the culprit or the cure, she argues that access to devices and networks is only one layer of inequality. The benefits of digital tools depend on surrounding institutions—markets that create jobs, education and training systems that build skills, political frameworks that shape infrastructure and regulation, and social conditions that determine who can participate. The quote thus cautions against “tech-solutionism” and implies that closing digital gaps requires coordinated reforms across business, government, and civil society, not simply deploying more hardware or connectivity.