Article:
https://www.fin24.com/Economy/internet-access-has-become-a-human-right-data-inquiry-hears-20181018
Though this is a small article I found it to be a very important article.
This article discusses the concept that internet access and data access should be a basic human right and a right that should be provided equally to the people of south Africa. The article talks about the debate of equal access to data services throughout South Africa. Media Monitoring Africa argued for this equality saying that access to the internet and communication should be a basic human right. Media Monitoring Africa’s executive director, William Bird, testified before the Competition Commission’s Data Services Market Inquiry this past Wednesday and said that failure recognize this issue as a basic human right would take the country back and impact the country as a whole. He then goes on to discuss that the wealthy have no issue accessing the internet, but the poor do and its because of the high rates for data to access internet and communication services. The article continues to discuss the importance to equality among rich and poor when it comes to access to these services and how income has made it difficult for groups of people to come into the digital age with the rest of the world. Bird believed that everyone has internet rights and these rights should be taken as seriously as rights in real life because the world is pushing more into the digital age. The final part of the article provided information from the opposing view that data is expensive in south Africa as compared to the rest of the world. The hearings will continue but as it stands it’s the debate between government expense versus human rights.
I provide this image and though it is based in Uganda I found it to be a great example, among many, why all people should have access to the internet. This is a movie poster made by a group in Uganda and with access to the internet this film group was able make a living off of making movies with local resources and local people. It was with the support of the internet that they were able to make this movie. So while the internet is great for connecting families and people all over the world, it also helps business and communities.