[AfrICANN-discuss] Internet Access Is Not a Human Right

[Nigel Roberts]

I think we are in agreement then!



On 01/05/2012 12:08 PM, Vint Cerf wrote:
> nigel, the problem with enshrining a technology as a human right is that
> when the technology changes, the right isn't valid any more. The proper
> right, here, is freedom of expresses and access to information - how that
> is accomplished is going to vary from time to time. Libraries facilitated
> access to information but to make them a "human right" over-extends the
> notion, for example. Internet is simply the most recent manifestation of a
> way to enable human rights.
>
> vint
>
>
>
> On Thu, Jan 5, 2012 at 7:04 AM, Nigel Roberts<nigel at channelisles.net>wrote:
>
>> Vika:
>>
>> Then I need to write a reasoned rebuttal, because Vint's wrong.
>>
>> But in advance of a detailed essay, here's a few thoughts.
>>
>> Perhaps Vint's not exactly, WRONG, but instead perhaps overinterpreting
>> the claim that
>>
>> 'Internet Access is a human right'.
>>
>>
>> If you look at when I first gained access to the proto-Internet, in 1978,
>> Internet access was clearly neither a human right nor even existed as far
>> as the vast majority.
>>
>> But if you look at the situation in some countries like the USA and the UK
>>   today, in 2012, a LACK of Internet access clearly INFRINGES basic human
>> rights in many aspects.
>>
>> My mother, who is 77, and beginning to suffer some of the trials of age,
>> cannot use the Internet.
>>
>> According she is dispossessed in some real ways when dealing with the
>> governmental authorities.
>>
>> She is discriminated and charged more for services by private companies
>> who do not take reasonable accomodations for the disabled in their service
>> offerings.
>>
>> But she can ask me to file her tax return, or book her flights for her.
>> Now imagine communities who cannot for reasons of geography or education
>> get access the internet either with reasonable speed (dialup is unusable
>> today) or at all. We have a new poor, the information-poor.
>>
>> Is water a human right?
>>
>> That's a question is a burning issue in many parts of Africa. According to
>> Kofi Annan it is.  See http://www.righttowater.info/
>>
>> But in the strict interpretation of say the Universal Declaration of Human
>> Rights, or the European Convention, the fundamental right is the not a
>> 'right to water'. First of all, is the right to life itself, and then other
>> rights such as the right to found a family, and  right to private and
>> family life. Clean drinking water is a necessity predicate.
>>
>> It seems to me that Internet access is analogous.
>>
>> And it appears that the most relevant human right is the right to free
>> expression (Art. 19 of the Universal Declaration, Art 10. of the European
>> Convention).
>>
>> There is no doubt in my mind that lack of functioning and efficient
>> internet access infringes that right.
>>
>> Nigel
>>
>> (PS: Vika's right. It's never too late. I did it in 2008 at age 50!)
>>
>>
>>
>> On 01/05/2012 11:29 AM, Vika Mpisane wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks, AR! This is quite a persuasive argument by Vint Cerf, and I'm
>>> convinced he's right. He should consider becoming a human rights lawyer as
>>> well...it's never too late.
>>>
>>
>