Internet a Human Right

Posted by Candy Whitley

United Nations contents that Internet access is a basic human right. In a 22 page report, I found page 7 of particular interest. It reads in part:

Indeed, the Internet has become a key means by which individuals can exercise their right to freedom of opinion and expression, as guaranteed by article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The latter provides that: (a) Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference;

(b) Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice; (c) The exercise of the rights provided for in paragraph 2 of this article carries with it special duties and responsibilities. It may therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary: (d) for respect of the rights or reputations of others;

(e) for the protection of national security or of public order (ordinary public), or of public health or morals. 21. By explicitly providing that everyone has the right to express him or herself through any media, the Special Rapporteur underscores that article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Covenant was drafted with foresight to include and to accommodate future technological developments through which individuals can exercise their right to freedom of expression. Hence, the framework of international human rights law remains relevant today and equally applicable to new communication technologies such as the Internet.

The report does specifically bring out some clear exceptions such as child photography.

This of course does bring up some interesting questions. If Internet access is a basic human right, who’s going to rightly pay for it?


(2011-9-17/TRCB News)