QuickQuip: Vint Cerf “Internet Access Is Not a Human Right” < Agreed...
Wow, what a doozy of an OpEd!
Vint Cerf wrote an article for the NY Times with the title “Internet Access Is Not a Human Right.” wherein he suggests that Internet access and the technology that provides it is “…an enabler of rights, not a right itself” and “…it is a mistake to place any particular technology in this exalted category [human right,] since over time we will end up valuing the wrong things.”
This article is so rich in very interesting points that I could spend hours both highlighting points to both agree with as well as squint sternly at many of them.
It made me think and in conclusion, I find myself in overall agreement. This topic inflames passionate debate — some really interesting debate — such as that from Rob Graham (@erratarob) here [although I’m not sure how a discussion on Human rights became anchored on U.S. centric constitutional elements which don’t, by definition, apply to all humans…only Americans…]
This ends up being much more of a complex moral issue than I expected in reviewing others’ arguments.
I’ve positioned this point for discussion in many forums without stating my position and have generally become fascinated by the results.
What do you think — is Internet access (not the Internet itself) a basic human right?
/Hoff
Related articles
- Silicon Alley Insider: VINT CERF: Internet Access Is Not A Human Right (businessinsider.com)
- Vint Cerf On Human Rights: Internet Access Isn’t On the List (yro.slashdot.org)
- Vint Cerf: Internet access isn’t a human right (news.cnet.com)
- Vint Cerf: Internet access isn’t a human right (venturebeat.com)
- Vint Cerf: ‘The internet is not a human right’ (go.theregister.com)
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