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United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Rights

Kandahar

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The United Nations has declared Internet access a human right, and disconnecting people from it is against international law.

The recent UN report explores the issues of Internet access in great detail, both on the infrastructural level and as a matter of access to content.

United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Rights

At first I thought this was a bit overzealous, but after thinking about it more I agree with the UN. The internet is the 21st century of the newspaper or television, and cutting people off is even more harmful than denying them access to those things would be. This is one of many reasons I oppose giving any person or government a "kill switch" through which they can cut people off from the internet.

Do you agree with the UN that it's a violation of human rights to disconnect people from the internet? Why or why not?
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

I think it's ridiculous that this is what we're pouring millions upon millions into every year.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

At first I thought this was a bit overzealous, but after thinking about it more I agree with the UN. The internet is the 21st century of the newspaper or television, and cutting people off is even more harmful than denying them access to those things would be. This is one of many reasons I oppose giving any person or government a "kill switch" through which they can cut people off from the internet.

Do you agree with the UN that it's a violation of human rights to disconnect people from the internet? Why or why not?

You don't have a right to a TV or a newspaper, why should one have a right to the internet?

I can't get the page to load, so i can't read the article, but if your internet provider cuts you off for non-pay, can you claim they are violating your human rights?
 
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Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

You don't have a right to a TV or a newspaper, why should one have a right to the internet?

I can't get the page to load, so i can't read the article, but if your internet provider cuts you off for non-pay, can you claim they are violating your human rights?

For the same reason people think everybody has a right to a house and a car and a job and everything else...
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

At first I thought this was a bit overzealous, but after thinking about it more I agree with the UN. The internet is the 21st century of the newspaper or television, and cutting people off is even more harmful than denying them access to those things would be. This is one of many reasons I oppose giving any person or government a "kill switch" through which they can cut people off from the internet.

Do you agree with the UN that it's a violation of human rights to disconnect people from the internet? Why or why not?

I think I'm gonna take a moment to laugh at you, the UN and anyone else that thinks access to the Internet is a "Human Right".

Laughable, except for the more dangerous underlying issue:

If access to the internet is a "Human Right" then that means you cannot be charged to access it, which means "Government" must provide it. Furthermore, if it's a "Human Right" and a Government entity has to provide for it, to ensure your rights after all, that means the Government will need to ensure that the content you are receiving is "the right content".

You didn't think about it Kandahar, you felt about it, and it felt bad to think that somewhere, someone, might not be able to access the internet! Didn't it?
 
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Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

You don't have a right to a TV or a newspaper, why should one have a right to the internet?

But you have the right to *access* TV and newspaper, at least in this country. The government can't just ban you from viewing or participating in those media sources if you want to.

WI Crippler said:
I can't get the page to load, so i can't read the article, but if your internet provider cuts you off for non-pay, can you claim they are violating your human rights?

No. Not unless they're denying you the ability to get internet from someone else.
 
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Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

I think I'm gonna take a moment to laugh at you, the UN and anyone else that thinks access to the Internet is a "Human Right".

Laughable, except for the more dangerous underlying issue:

If access to the internet is a "Human Right" then that means you cannot be charged to access it, which means "Government" must provide it. Furthermore, if it's a "Human Right" and a Government entity has to provide for it, to ensure your rights after all, that means the Government will need to ensure that the content you are receiving is "the right content".

You didn't think about it Kandahar, you felt about it, and it felt bad to think fo someone, somewhere, not being able to access the internet didn't it?

"Disconnecting people from the internet is a violation of human rights" =/= "Having the internet is a human right"
Fail.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

But you have the right to *access* TV and newspaper, at least in this country. The government can't just ban you from participating in those media sources if you want to.



No. Not unless they're denying you the ability to get internet from someone else.

The problem here is, you seem to fail to understand what a "right" is.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

"Disconnecting people from the internet is a violation of human rights" =/= "Having the internet is a human right"

Fail.

No sir, the fail is your "feeling" not thought, that it would be a violation of someones "human rights" not to be able to access the internet.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

No sir, the fail is your "feeling" not thought, that it would be a violation of someones "human rights" not to be able to access the internet.

Do you think that the government should be able to ban you from accessing newspapers, television, radio, and books too?
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

But you have the right to *access* TV and newspaper, at least in this country. The government can't just ban you from viewing or participating in those media sources if you want to.

Well whatever we consider other media sources, the same guidelines should be applied to the internet. Save for convicted felons.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

I think I'm gonna take a moment to laugh at you, the UN and anyone else that thinks access to the Internet is a "Human Right".

Laughable, except for the more dangerous underlying issue:

If access to the internet is a "Human Right" then that means you cannot be charged to access it, which means "Government" must provide it. Furthermore, if it's a "Human Right" and a Government entity has to provide for it, to ensure your rights after all, that means the Government will need to ensure that the content you are receiving is "the right content".

You didn't think about it Kandahar, you felt about it, and it felt bad to think that somewhere, someone, might not be able to access the internet! Didn't it?

:roll: Does your government provide guns?

I agree that this is stupid, but you're kinda misrepresenting it, it's not the government has to provide it, it's that the government can't stop you from accessing it.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

Do you think that the government should be able to ban you from accessing newspapers, television, radio, and books too?

It's not a matter of "human rights" which is what makes you look so damned foolish. You don't think that in a major emergency event, they couldn't black out TV, radio and shut down printing presses now? Is that a matter of "Human Rights"?

No, it's not. You should stop while you're ahead man.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

:roll: Does your government provide guns?

I agree that this is stupid, but you're kinda misrepresenting it, it's not the government has to provide it, it's that the government can't stop you from accessing it.
ICT & Human Rights
Main article: Right to Internet access
In 2009, Finland was the first country to make 1-megabit broadband Web access a legal right.[145]
According to a survey in 2010, nearly four out of five people around the world believe that access to the internet is a fundamental right.[146
Human rights - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You think I'm just pulling **** out of my ass Spud? THIS is what they are gunning for. Do try to keep up before you step in it.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

It's not a matter of "human rights" which is what makes you look so damned foolish.

You don't consider freedom of speech and freedom of the press to be human rights?

MrVicchio said:
You don't think that in a major emergency event, they couldn't black out TV, radio and shut down printing presses now? Is that a matter of "Human Rights"?

No they couldn't (at least not legally), and yes it is.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

You don't consider freedom of speech and freedom of the press to be human rights?



No they couldn't (at least not legally), and yes it is.


You make me laugh.

Those are Constitutionally Protected Rights. Wherein do "Human Rights" come from? And who protects them? Decides them? Hmmm?

And yes, they can and no it's not.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

You make me laugh.

Those are Constitutionally Protected Rights.

If all you're going to argue about is semantics, why are you being such an ass about it? It sounds like you agree with every single thing that I've said (and that the UN said), except you specifically don't like the phrase "human rights" for some reason.

Did you ever stop to think about WHY freedom of speech and freedom of the press were included in the Constitution in the first place?

MrVicchio said:
Wherein do "Human Rights" come from? And who protects them? Decides them? Hmmm?

In this case, the UN decided it. No one protects them on a global basis, just some individual member states. Next?

MrVicchio said:
And yes, they can and no it's not.

It's interesting that you're OK with the government blacking out the media whenever there's an "emergency." I hear Bashar Assad is looking for some openings in his cabinet following the recent defections; I think you'd fit right in.
 
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Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

I don't think access to publically available information is a "human right", but I definitely agree that a civilised government in a free country should NEVER be able to remove from me the ability to access said information no matter what form it may come in and that includes the internet. Unless I'm in jail and even that is debatable.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

Human rights - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You think I'm just pulling **** out of my ass Spud? THIS is what they are gunning for. Do try to keep up before you step in it.

Really, you're saying the actions of a sovereign nation are somehow related to those of the UN?

Lets look at other rights guaranteed by the UN:

# (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.

Has the UN said all governments have to supply cars?

# (1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.

Do governments have to give people property?

* Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Do governments have to supply thoughts, consciences, religions and places of worships?

# (1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.

Do governments have to supply jobs?

I could go on, but I got bored, the fact remains that the UN is not asking governments to supply the means to exercise a right, merely that they cannot restrict ones ability to exercise it, and that Finland, no matter how hard you pretend, is not analogous to the UN.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

How can something be considered a human right when its potentiality has only existed for a couple of decades?
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

I could go on, but I got bored, the fact remains that the UN is not asking governments to supply the means to exercise a right, merely that they cannot restrict ones ability to exercise it, and that Finland, no matter how hard you pretend, is not analogous to the UN.

An important point. Now, if the infrastructure is state owned and the program is dropped have they restricted you?


How can something be considered a human right when its potentiality has only existed for a couple of decades?

The thing which has existed only recently does not define the right but falls within it.
 
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Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

:roll: Does your government provide guns?

No, but it is making health insurance mandatory. The problem is, Spud, that once something becomes a "right" people take that to mean it's a right to have it for free. I wish I could find the quote but I remember some US politician (a Dem, of course), not long ago, saying that the government should provide everyone a laptop and high speed Internet.

Then there's this from Canada.

High-speed Internet a Basic Right in Canada? - TNW Canada
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

I did some digging.. We provide 22% of the funding for the U.N.. In 1972 we had to request and allow the U.N. to vote on reducing our contribution from 35% down to 25%. Obviously, we won that vote..but still. Then, in 2000 they lowered the cap to 22%...so we're at the peak of financial contribution. The current general budget for the U.N. is $14.5 billion. Then, apparently the "peacekeeping" budget is separate; the U.S. contributes 27% of that budget, which was set at 7.8 billion for the 2009-2010 fiscal year (didn't find current numbers).

So we put in $3,190,000,000 for the general budget and $2,106,000,000 for peacekeeping, for a total of $5,296,000,000.

That's 5% of our 2010 dept. of education funding.
It's 8% of the DHS spending in 2010.
It's 3% of the dept. of agriculture spending in 2010.
It's about the 50% of legislative spending in 2010.
It's about 50% of National Science Foundation spending in 2010.
It's about 20% of dept. of energy spending in 2010.

And for that expense we're getting reports like the one referenced in the OP? And sternly worded letters to those who violate U.N. "rules"?
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

It could potentially be a violation of free speech, so to that end it might be considered a violation of civil rights. (I'm thinking of China in this instance)

But access to the internet is not a human right.
 
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Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

Gee... perhaps the UN should take a good look back at the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights... didn't see anything about Internet in there... talk about the UN trivilizing something that is very important. That seminal document is a pretty good summation of what ought to be basic human rights. How about we ensure that all people around the world have those first before we worry about guaranteeing Internet access???
 
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