Internet Access: A Budding Right?

[Bozo Erectus]

If having a phone isnt a right, I dont see why internet access should be. Providing public access to the internet, with internet kiosks, filling the same role as public pay phones, should be enough.

 

[Che Guava]

NEW TWIST ON THE QUESTION: Even if the internet access itself should be based on means, rather than rights (i.e. like a telephone or telelvision), should we be guaranteed unrestricted access to all that is on the internet? Is this already covered in freedom of press/expression rights, or do we need one specifically for the control of electronic information?

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Internet access is way down on my list of 'rights'. Before wasting time and resources making sure everyone can have his own blog, we should make sure people have enough to eat, a place to live, medical care, jobs.

 

[mdwh]

NEW TWIST ON THE QUESTION: Even if the internet access itself should be based on means, rather than rights (i.e. like a telephone or telelvision), should we be guaranteed unrestricted access to all that is on the internet? Is this already covered in freedom of press/expression rights, or do we need one specifically for the control of electronic information?

Yes, strongly agree that that right should exist, that the Government should not censor material. Though this right can come under freedom of expression for all I care.

We don't have freedom of speech here in the UK (except for possibly the recent law, the Human Rights Act, but that doesn't have the strength of the US Constitution), and the UK Government has had a far easier time of censoring material (both on the Internet and off) because some prudes like Mary Whitehouse found it offensive (even though they don't have to look at it).