Internet Access Is Not Quite A Human Right

from the just-misses-the-cut dept

While a few places have tried declaring internet access as a "basic human right", it appears that the UN says it doesn't make the cut, just yet (and rightfully so). There are plenty of other issues which clearly supersede internet access on the list of basic human rights, and in places that are struggling to feed, clothe and shelter their population, the last thing they're thinking about is how to wire up a computer.
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  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 30 Jul 2003 @ 12:15am

    Basic Human Rights

    I heard a silly rumour that some countries actually view universally accessible healthcare as a basic human right.

    They even have it in their human rights charter. Communists! Net access before healthcare, I say - it's the american way.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    cw, 30 Jul 2003 @ 12:50am

    No Subject Given

    It is not coherent to refer to the reciept of goods and services as a "basic human right", especially considering that many have been developed only in recent history.

    If internet access is a "basic human right", this means that all humans who existed prior to the development of the internet had this particular right violated.

    Also, if a technology on the verge of being developed (e.g., a new AIDS drug) is considered a human right, development can be stifled, especially if drug companies are mandated to give their product away for free. They won't develop it at all if they aren't permited to profit from it, or at the very least, cover the cost of its development, production and distribution.

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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