The question whether Internet access is a human right seems to come up pretty frequently. But I'd not seen the construct that Internet access at home was a human right — and that's what the Court of Appeal in the UK appears to have said, according to the Guardian.
In overturning a decision prohibiting a sex offender from going online as part of his sentence, the court ruled that it is "unreasonable nowadays to ban anyone from accessing the internet in their home."
Wow.
I also find it difficult to understand why an access to specific technology to be a Human Right. If this is the case then should we say access to Mobile phones or Smartphones are also a Human right?, and go on with the list…
ReplyDeleteI would guess a possible argument of having the internet access, or maybe Broadband access, as a Human right because it contributes to the development of the Human being, including economical development, and thus the country and eventually the world.
Also the right for the internet may reflect on exercising the rights to “Freedom of expression and opinion”… however if we consider Freedom of expression then whatever mean I use (internet or other) should be irrelevant!
I agree — it does not make sense to me that Internet access is a human right. Ability to communicate, yes, but tying it to the Internet seems too narrow to me.
ReplyDeleteNeil, this is an article I wrote a few months ago on Internet access and human rights. The article can be accessed at url http://www.studymode.com/subjects/internet-access-a-human-right-or-essential-facility-page1.html.
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