United Nations: Disconnecting People from the Internet Is a Violation of Human Rights

United Nations: Disconnecting People from the Internet Is a Violation of Human Rights

Well, there you have it: Internet access is officially a human right. It's an interesting position for the UN to take. In our cushy American setting, that might seem a little silly. Internet access is a human right? Really? When most people just use it for entertainment? But there has been quite a lot of controversy at the international level over whether individuals can claim that their rights have been violated when their governments cut off their Internet access in order to, for example, prevent them from organizing protests against said government. Seen in that context, this decision makes a lot more sense. It also makes me wonder if there have ever been similar discussions about other technologies. If Internet access is a right (based on the idea that people have a right to freedom of expression and opinion) is access to other information/communication technology, like cell phones, also a right? Would forcing cell phone providers to take their carrier signals down (like Egypt did during their recent revolution) also qualify as a violation of the populace's human rights? Very interesting stuff.

The world is changing, and fast! It's difficult for governments and educational institutions to keep pace. Policies that govern technology use that were developed even five years ago often seem anachronistic. In many ABE programs, we struggle just to get access to basic online resources like Gmail and streaming video. Five or ten years ago, these things may have been seen as an "extra" or something that schools shouldn't be providing because they were too entertainment-focused. Now they are basic necessities for online learning and for full participation in adult life. We need more flexible policies that allow instructors and learners to access the full range of opportunities provided by the Internet. It's a human right. Just ask the UN.