Internet access is now a human right? We've got a podcast series for that
On 1 July, 2016, the United Nations resolved that access to the internet is to be considered a human right. Our digital culture podcast, Chips with Everything, has produced an in-depth series on the topic. Listen to all four episodes here
Earlier last month the United Nations' General Assembly sat down to discuss, among a multitude of other looming sociopolitical issues, whether or not access to the internet should be a basic human right. Stretching back to 2009, this debate has been taken to the floor five times to no avail, but this time round a resolution was adopted (.pdf), co-sponsored by 70-odd countries.
Given the degree of influence a connection to the internet can have on a person's life in the 21st century - from seeking government services to expressing an opinion on social media - the UN resolved that any human rights one has offline must be guaranteed online as well.
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