The Right of Access to the Internet in International Law and Human Rights
Subject Areas : حقوق بین الملل
1 - PhD in International Law; President of Al-Thaqalayn International Satellite Network, Tehran, Iran
Keywords: right of access to the Internet, human rights, international legal system, people’s rights,
Abstract :
Individuals’ access to the Internet has become a central issue in the field of communications law due to its close connection with the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as its role in fulfilling social needs and interests. Today, at both the international and national levels, Internet access is widely discussed from cultural, social, economic, legal, and political perspectives. In this context, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a non-binding resolution in 2016 titled “The promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the Internet.” This resolution acknowledges the importance of the Internet and emphasizes the protection of individuals’ right to access it. Given the increasing importance of this technology in contemporary society, a crucial question arises: How can the right to Internet access be conceptualized as a human right within the international legal system? This research seeks to answer that question through an examination and analytical interpretation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Employing a descriptive–analytical method, the study explores how existing human rights frameworks support the recognition of Internet access as a fundamental right necessary for the exercise of other basic freedoms.
