U.N. Report Declares Internet Access a Human Right

[tabatha]

A United Nations report said Friday that disconnecting people from the internet is a human rights violation and against international law.

The report railed against France and the United Kingdom, which have passed laws to remove accused copyright scofflaws from the internet. It also protested blocking internet access to quell political unrest (.pdf).

While blocking and filtering measures deny users access to specific content on the Internet, states have also taken measures to cut off access to the Internet entirely. The Special Rapporteur considers cutting off users from internet access, regardless of the justification provided, including on the grounds of violating intellectual property rights law, to be disproportionate and thus a violation of article 19, paragraph 3, of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The report continues:

The Special Rapporteur calls upon all states to ensure that Internet access is maintained at all times, including during times of political unrest. In particular, the Special Rapporteur urges States to repeal or amend existing intellectual copyright laws which permit users to be disconnected from Internet access, and to refrain from adopting such laws.

The report, by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, comes the same day an internet-monitoring firm detected that two thirds of Syria’s internet access has abruptly gone dark, in what is likely a government response to unrest in that country.

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/06/internet-a-human-right/

[HughBeaumont]

1. The UN long declared universal health care a human right too.

"PHHHHHTTTT" say America's Clown Car (and able to afford just about anything they please) CEOs, who'd much rather see you go bankrupt and DIE than even give one single solitary INCH towards your well being. An informed public is a dangerous and less obedient public.

[Tiggeroshii]

2. I once disconnected my internet service caue my roommate was bootlegging game

off bittorrent, and were notified by the service.

Did I break international law by taking away his internet access?

[tabatha]

3. Surely, permanent lack of service is what is implied.