Some governments already recognise access to the Internet as a fundamental human right

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.khaleejtimes.ae/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/international/2011/July/international_July400.xml§ion=international

Internet access a fundamental human right (AFP)

9 July 2011

VIENNA — Access to the Internet should be seen as a fundamental human right and respected as much as freedom of expression, the transatlantic security body OSCE said in a report Friday.

“Everyone should have a right to participate in the information society and states have a responsibility to ensure citizens access to the Internet is guaranteed,” the report, presented in Vienna, said.

The analysis was the first ever of state regulations on Internet access within the 56-member OSCE.

“Some governments already recognise access to the Internet as a human right. This trend should be supported as a crucial element of media freedom in the 21st century,” the OSCE’s media representative Dunja Mijatovic told journalists upon presentation of the report.

Finland and Estonia have already done so, the OSCE praised.

[Drale]

1. I disagree

While the internet is fantastic, we need to work on feeding everyone, getting everyone clean drinking water and shelter before we start talking about technological human rights.

[cali]

2. with hundreds of millions who don't have access to clean water or

sufficient calories, this seems just absurd.

[Harry Callahan]

3. The concept of a right entail the freedom to act based on one's own judgement.

It does not entail the right to impose obligations on others.

In other words, you have the right to obtain internet service by means of trade. However, you do not have the right to enslave someone else as a means of obtaining it.