Internet Access Viewed as Fundamental Human Right
Is unfettered Internet access a fundamental human right? Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton believes it is and said as much during a speech on Internet censorship earlier this year.
It appears this belief is widely held. The BBC put the question to more than 27,000 adults in 26 countries and got a yes from four out of five, which is nice to hear.
Less pleasant were respondents’ answers to questions about free speech on the Internet. Asked whether they agreed or disagreed with the statement, “the Internet is a safe place to express my opinions,” the survey group was almost evenly split: 48 percent agreed, 49 percent did not. The countries in which respondents were wariest of expressing their opinions online: Germany (72 percent), South Korea (70 percent), France (69 percent), Japan (65 percent) and China (55 percent).
Interesting list, isn’t it? Certainly, you’d expect to see China, Japan and South Korea on this list, but Germany and France? Seems odd–to me, anyway.
Comments
Squinting. Link to full sized graph is messed up.
Our lousy education system has really messed up our kids minds. Most couldn't define fundamental if you promised them $50 for it. These kids will never be fully functioning adults and once all the existing adults are gone we will really be in trouble.
Free Internet, free transportation, guaranteed job where you don't actually have to show up (don't scold us you will ruin our creativity!).
The power hungry (who did not attend public schools) will keep offering us more rights until all rights are diluted to the vanishing point.
Posted by macbeach at March 9th, 2010 at 1:18 amI agree that the present education system is lousy…. but that's why kids like us have taken it upon OURSELVES to INDIVIDUALLY seek information, share insights and catalyze projects via online (as well as traditional personal) communication. Most of us (in the younger generation) CAN define FUNDAMENTAL even if you promised us only a DOLLAR for it: http://www.OneYoungWorld.com
What do you mean by “The power hungry (who did not attend public schools)”? Can you please elaborate – give concrete example of such individuals please?
Thanks.
Posted by dreitoledo at March 9th, 2010 at 9:11 amSorry. Fixed.
Posted by JohnPaczkowski at March 9th, 2010 at 2:22 pm