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

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.'"

Comments

It is, in my country

[blind biker]

In Finland Internet access indeed is a human right.

But of course, in some 3rd world countries such as the USA, even universal healthcare isn't a human right.

Re:Well that's funny, cos my country just

[narcc]

while you have the right to speak, a "right to be heard" would infringe on others' rights to ignore you.

It's this sort of twisted thinking that leads to tyranny.