The Roma, Europe's largest ethnic minority group, have endured a long history of marginalisation, systemic discrimination, and exclusion from essential services and opportunities. This exclusion is rooted in structural inequalities, manifested through antigypsyism: a specific form of racism against Roma. Antigypsyist prejudices depict Roma as inherently inferior, leading to discrimination and violence, whether direct or indirect, public or private, conscious or unconscious, within or outside the community. In recent years, the digital divide has become an increasingly acute issue, affecting all people, including the Roma. Addressing the digital divide for the Roma requires not only technical solutions but also deep, structural changes to counter these exclusionary practices. Additionally, the impact of COVID-19 has exacerbated the digital divide by increasing reliance on online platforms for education, employment, and access to essential services, thereby widening the gap for those unable to engage digitally. As technology increasingly shapes social and economic opportunities, digital exclusion has become one of the most pressing aspects of the broader exclusion faced by the Roma. This exclusion is not simply a failure of access to services but a failure of policy reform that addresses systemic antigypsyism. This paper takes a comprehensive look at the patterns and trends surrounding digital inclusion among Roma communities in Europe. It explores the historical and contemporary factors-socio-economic, cultural, institutional, and political-that sustain the digital divide, with an emphasis on the role of antigypsyism as a root cause. In doing so, this research highlights pathways for fostering more equitable digital inclusion and empowerment for Roma communities through targeted interventions, policies, and broader societal shifts. While digital exclusion affects various marginalised groups globally, the situation for the Roma is uniquely severe. Historical legacies of discrimination, which have excluded Roma from education, employment, and social services, now also extend into the digital sphere. This exclusion is not solely due to a lack of access to devices or connectivity but also reflects broader issues such as limited digital literacy, linguistic barriers, and deeply entrenched prejudices. Furthermore, antigypsyism continues to influence policy decisions, resource allocation, and societal attitudes, preventing meaningful engagement with digital technologies.
