U.N. Report Declares Internet Access a Human Right

By David Kravets

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.

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.

I'm going to quit paying my bill.

Human Right Internet Access is at 1200 baud. Roberta gets that with his tinfoil hat.

I guess there was nothing more important at the UN that day...no wars, starvation, piracy, crimes against humanity, etc.

Damn right! There is a human right to watch porn! Oh wait. I didn't just post that did I? Shoot. Um, nevermind. This wasn't supposed to be posted.

The UN has gone full retard.

But like Robert said, its my human right to watch porn... shawing

(06-04-2011 12:03 PM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  Human Right Internet Access is at 1200 baud. Roberta gets that with his tinfoil hat.

SOAF telling me I have a tinfoil hat is hilarious! Nah, I get the lowest level Comcast(which is very slow).

(06-04-2011 12:37 PM)RobertN Wrote:  

(06-04-2011 12:03 PM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  Human Right Internet Access is at 1200 baud. Roberta gets that with his tinfoil hat.

SOAF telling me I have a tinfoil hat is hilarious! Nah, I get the lowest level Comcast(which is very slow).

Slow, yes, very slow, to match your Intellect.

Your idea of great sex is a blow up doll and cold rice and a little rat meat.

It's no more a right than cable or satellite.

Wait. Back up.

What year was the telephone declared a human right?

(06-04-2011 03:26 PM)Smaug Wrote:  Wait. Back up.

What year was the telephone declared a human right?

Look at your phone bill - see all the surcharges for the people that can't afford it or live too far from the main lines...

One argument I've heard is that everybody should have the right to information, communication, and knowledge. Although that makes the internet useful, it doesn't make it a right. It would've been better if they stated that no country is to shut the internet off in order to keep your people in line.

Doesn't Al Gore have a patent on the internet?

(06-04-2011 04:02 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(06-04-2011 03:26 PM)Smaug Wrote:  Wait. Back up.

What year was the telephone declared a human right?

Look at your phone bill - see all the surcharges for the people that can't afford it or live too far from the main lines...

Some people have an "Obama Phone".. its a free cell phone with something like 100 minutes per month. You can qualify for it if you are on Governmental Assistance- Food Stamps, Section 8, etc. Its funded from the tack ons to the phone bill.

Netnanny == genocidal monsters (I'm exaggerating, but only modestly)

(06-04-2011 08:32 PM)WMD Owl Wrote:  

(06-04-2011 04:02 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(06-04-2011 03:26 PM)Smaug Wrote:  Wait. Back up.

What year was the telephone declared a human right?

Look at your phone bill - see all the surcharges for the people that can't afford it or live too far from the main lines...

Some people have an "Obama Phone".. its a free cell phone with something like 100 minutes per month. You can qualify for it if you are on Governmental Assistance- Food Stamps, Section 8, etc. Its funded from the tack ons to the phone bill.

tackons and surcharges for rural phone usage are as old as the hills, but as with everything else, Obama abuses every available loophole to ridiculous extremes. For anyone that doesn't buy the slippery slope argument of government excess, the Obama administration should be the gold standard to reconsider your ways.

(06-04-2011 04:44 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  It would've been better if they stated that no country is to shut the internet off in order to keep your people in line.

THAT I could buy.