CODI report finds most languages still locked out of meaningful internet access
in plain words
A group called CODI studied how well people around the world can actually use the internet in their own language. They found that even when people have internet access, more than half still struggle to use websites, apps or email in their native tongue. Most online content exists in only about ten languages, even though over 7,000 languages are spoken worldwide. The report warns that new AI tools might make this language gap even worse.
The Coalition on Digital Impact (CODI) released its first State of Digital Access report, titled Global Web: The State of Digital Access, 2026, highlighting a gap between internet connectivity and genuine digital participation. CODI surveyed organizations working with underserved language communities across Africa, Asia, Australia, North America and Europe between December 2025 and February 2026.
While 76.5% of respondents said their communities had internet access, about 53% reported that users could not navigate the internet in their native language. Common barriers included missing local-language content, poor translation quality, rejection of internationalized email addresses, lack of appropriate keyboards and scripts, and weak local-language search tools. More than 7,000 languages are spoken globally, yet roughly 10 account for most online content, according to the report.
CODI found that where local-language content exists, it tends to be limited to news and social media, while education, commerce, professional services and government platforms remain dominated by major languages. The report also cites technical issues such as limited search indexing, poor non-Latin script support, and web forms that reject internationalized domain name A readable internet name made of labels separated by dots. Full definition of domain name email addresses.
CODI frames Universal Acceptance The goal that every valid domain name and email address works in all software. Full definition of Universal Acceptance — the correct processing of domain names, internationalized email addresses and scripts across internet systems — as a necessary but insufficient foundation, arguing that usable services, searchable content and trustworthy local-language information are also required.
On the supply side, CODI reviewed digital-development programs from governments, multilateral organizations and technology companies, finding heavy investment in infrastructure, skills and governance, but little treatment of linguistic inclusion as a core design requirement; language support is typically added later through localization.
The report warns that artificial intelligence could worsen existing imbalances. Despite efforts like Meta’s No Language Left Behind and Google initiatives, most AI language models still cover only a fraction of world languages, with commercial investment following market size rather than need.
CODI also points to a coordination gap between community organizations seeking localized resources and the governments, funders and technology providers investing in digital development, and plans further research partnerships and a searchable catalog of digital-access resources.