General Discussions

So I want to ask you guys, Should internet access be treated as a human right?

In some countries like France it's treated already but in some countries it's even forbidden!

What do you guys think ?

No. Using that ideology, electricity should also be a right since it is taken more for granted than the internet is.

I actually find it a lot worse not to have internet and have electricity than having electricity and no internet.

All games I play require internet connection, so I would just sit here and stare at my screen doing nothing. TV programs are even worse.

I wonder what we all did before the Internet age?

My own two cents is no. The Internet is a service or a commodity. Somehow I don't think having Internet access belongs in the same category as something like freedom from slavery and not being segregated by colour, religion or sex.

hell no its a privilege not a right

Not really. Most of the world has internet now with normal 5mbit speed. This isn't 1980's or 1990's when internet was a privilege. Internet through optical fiber is a privilege. It's more of a thing you need now.

For example, other than playing games, I use my internet to do homework posted on our Uni website, we can also download missed classes, exam examples and results, future assignments and apply for exam deadlines.

You're playing with a bit of fire there. Internet specifically as a right? No, of course not. Many countries still discriminate against ethnic groups, and think women and gays deserve fewer rights than everyone else.

I think the question should probably be Should the freedom to pursue the internet be a human right? It's essentially no different than freedom to pursue a better life, but in this case it requires every country to have a halfway decent infrastructure and not be subject to weekly genocides/famines/etc.

It also, maybe, just maybe, speaks to communicate that given that it's such a simply worded and basic right (not to implement, though) that the pursuit of knowledge is far more important than holding back our progeny by preventing them from gaining outside knowledge due to our prejudice.

I think we can all get on board with that, can't we?

It's definitely not a privilege, I wholeheartedly agree - like I said, it's a service - but, at the same time, not being able to play games which need a connection, or not having access to resources you usually use for your homework wouldn't be infringing on your human rights.

Like I said, what did you do before the Internet was such a widely available resource?

Maybe if every information resource other than the Internet had been wiped off the face of the Earth, and communicating with people in a way which didn't involve the Internet in some way was all but impossible then yeah, Internet access may be considered a basic human right... but we're nowhere near that point.

[Edited by Skyheart, 4/8/2012 3:09:39 PM]