Is Internet Access A Fundamental Human Right?

“Life, liberty and security of person,” are among the fundamental human rights protected by the United Nations. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the same document that states these rights, protects the universal human right to education as well as other freedoms. For a long time, debate questioned if access to clean water could be considered a fundamental human right. Then in July the UN declared that it is indeed a fundamental human right.

Now we ask, is internet access a fundamental right?

Five countries (Finland, Estonia, France, Greece and Costa Rica) believe it is. Some argue that internet access is central to education and communication and that internet should be regarded as infrastructure. By 2015, the UN aims to provide access to communication as part of its Millenium Development Goals to reduce global poverty and improve living standards. Still, exactly how this could be funded or implemented is not yet clear.

What do you think? Should internet access be recognized as a fundamental human right?

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