Internet access must become human right or we risk ever-widening inequality
University of Birmingham
Particularly in developing countries,
internet access can make the difference between people receiving an education,
staying healthy, finding a home, and securing employment -- or not.
Even if people have offline opportunities,
such as accessing social security schemes or finding housing, they are at a
comparative disadvantage to those with Internet access.
Publishing his findings in Politics,
Philosophy & Economics, Dr Merten Reglitz, Lecturer in Global Ethics at
the University of Birmingham, calls for a standalone human right to internet
access -- based on it being a practical necessity for a range of socio-economic
human rights.
He calls for public authorities to provide
internet access free of charge for those unable to afford it, as well as
providing training in basic digital skills training for all citizens and
protecting online access from arbitrary interference by states and private
companies.
Dr Reglitz commented: "The internet has unique and fundamental value for the realisation of many of our socio-economic human rights -- allowing users to submit job applications, send medical information to healthcare professionals, manage their finances and business, make social security claims, and submit educational assessments.
"The internet's structure enables a
mutual exchange of information that has the potential to contribute to the
progress of humankind as a whole -- potential that should be protected and
deployed by declaring access to the Internet a human right."
The study outlines several areas in
developed countries where internet access is essential to exercise
socio-economic human rights:
- Education -- students in internet-free households are disadvantaged in obtaining a good school education with essential learning aids and study materials online.
- Health -- providing in-person healthcare to remote communities can be challenging, particularly in the US and Canada. Online healthcare can help to plug this gap.
- Housing -- in many developed countries, significant parts of the rental housing market have moved online.
- Social Security -- accessing these public services today is often unreasonably difficult without internet access.
- Work -- jobs are increasingly advertised in real time online and people must be able to access relevant websites to make effective use of their right to work.
Dr Reglitz's research also highlights similar problems for people without internet access in developing countries -- for example, 20 per cent of children aged 6 to 11 are out of school in sub-Saharan Africa.
Many children face long walks to their schools, where class
sizes are routinely very large in crumbling, unsanitary schools with
insufficient numbers of teachers.
However, online education tools can make a
significant difference -- allowing children living remotely from schools to
complete their education. More students can be taught more effectively if
teaching materials are available digitally and pupils do not have to share
books.
For people in developing countries,
internet access can also make the difference between receiving an adequate
level of healthcare or receiving none. Digital health tools can help diagnose
illnesses -- for example, in Kenya, a smartphone-based Portable Eye Examination
Kit (Peek) has been used to test people's eyesight and identify people who need
treatment, especially in remote areas underserved by medical practitioners.
People are often confronted with a lack of brick-and-mortar banks in developing countries and internet access makes possible financial inclusion. Small businesses can also raise money through online crowdfunding platforms -- the World Bank expects such sums raised in Africa to rise from $32 million in 2015 to $2.5 billion in 2025.