Vint Cerf On Human Rights: Internet Access Isn't On the List

Posted by timothy on Thursday January 5, 2012 @07:42AM from the coffee-ice-cream-narrowly-beat-it-out dept.

Gallenod writes "In an op-ed for the New York Times, Vint Cerf writes that civil protests around the world, sparked by Internet communications, 'have raised questions about whether Internet access is or should be a civil or human right.' Cerf argues that 'technology is an enabler of rights, not a right itself,' and contends that for something to be considered a human right, it 'must be among the things we as humans need in order to lead healthy, meaningful lives, like freedom from torture or freedom of conscience. It is a mistake to place any particular technology in this exalted category, since over time we will end up valuing the wrong things.'"

3 of 398 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Well that's funny, cos my country just by DCTech · 2012-01-05 07:42 · Score: 4, Funny

Well that's funny, cos my country just said it is human right for everyone to get internet access and also access to free information. U.S., what a backwards country.
1. Re:Well that's funny, cos my country just by forkfail · 2012-01-05 08:01 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Sure they did. That's why freedom of the press is also guaranteed.
  
  --
  Check your premises.
2. Re:Well that's funny, cos my country just by Pieroxy · 2012-01-05 11:15 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  ... and cutting out the cable/telephone companies KILLS JOBS.
  So that's what killed him. Thanks for the info, I thought it was cancer or something.
  
  --
  Write boring code, not shiny code!