Barry's received comments

• Access to the internet as a basic human right is an interesting concept, one I was not convinced of until I did some further reading. Article 19 in the 61 year old, UN Declaration of human right says;

  “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

  The internet has become a crucial medium for freedom of speech supporters all over the world. Blocking or preventing access to this network in my opinion would seem to go against the article 19.

  Should it be named a basic human right? – I’m still not sure, but one thing I am sure of is that blocking or preventing access to this network does contravene the 60 year old right to the freedom “…to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”.

  Posted on 1st March 2010 in response to Digital Inclusion

• I think this raises an interesting distinction, that between external/governmental forces blocking access to the internet and the very same forces making sure their citizens can have universal access to it.

  The difference between being blocked deliberately (e.g. by something like the Digital Economy Bill) from using the net and simply not knowing how to use it is huge.

  I’d argue that a policy that blocks and/or removes someone’s access to the net i in contravention of the UDHR. But the fact the my gran doesn’t know how to upload photos to Flickr isn’t a governmental issue.

  There are also infrastructural issues. Is spending £500k to provide internet access to 3 cottages in the highlands a justifiable expense? And if so, who bears that cost, the taxpayer? The customers of the ISP? It’s sticky…

  Posted on 1st March 2010 in response to Digital Inclusion