So I've Heard That Some People Want To Add "Internet" As A Human Right

[Seil]

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And this raises several complicated questions - for instance, what would the connection speed need to be like? Does it matter if you're running the 'net via a 286 and Windows 95 compared to a laptop with Vista? What would the fines and penalties be for someone if they deny internet access to others?

Here's a link to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Now, we've had discussions in the past about the internet itself, where things like Internet Bullying have taken place, some of us even going as far to say that the internet has replaced mainstream news for them. It's not uncommon for the internet to be on top of things information wise.

The internet is actually a tool. It allows us to look at various places, peoples and life styles. We can get information about travel plans, healthy sexual choices and talk to grandma while we're three thousand miles away. There's a lot to do on the 'net, and there's a lot we can use it for. It's revolutionized and in all likelihood, defined a generation. That being said, there's also a lot out there that's not helpful, but I'm trying to make a point here.

Human Rights are there to ensure that every human be provided for, that we try to be good to others to the best of human decency. There's obviously situations where it doesn't happen like that, but for the most part, we believe that these rights are essential to apply to everyone, and that they are followed. That being said, we're talking about a legal document that argues that everyone is equal, that everyone has the right to a working government - and the fundamental freedoms, that:

Originally Posted by The Charter

(a) freedom of conscience and religion;

(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;

(c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and

(d) freedom of association.

And we want to squeeze in there that everyone is entitled to an internet connection? I believe that the internet is great, and as a tool, it works well. I just don't think we should stick it in there somewhere. It's a luxury, not a right. Anything that would follow suite would just be a joke.

Originally Posted by Link 3

Is the internet a fundamental human right? Was one of the questions asked to more than 27,000 adults from 26 countries around the world.

The survey, conducted by GlobeScan for the BBC World Service found that 87% of internet users felt internet access should be the “fundamental right of all people”.

Of non-internet users polled, 71% said they should have to right to access the web.

Countries such as Finland and Estonia have already ruled that access is a human right for their citizens.

I agree that no one should be denied internet access due to race, color, creed or religion, but I don't think that it is, or should be, considered a human right.