University of Birmingham is making the case for free internet access as "a human right"

A University of Birmingham researcher is championing free internet access as a fundamental human right.

A researcher at the University of Birmingham, Dr Merten Reglitz, is making the case that access to the internet is now essential for people to fully enjoy their human rights
A researcher at the University of Birmingham, Dr Merten Reglitz, is making the case that access to the internet is now essential for people to fully enjoy their human rights.
Lee Bell
Lee Bell Meteored United Kingdom 4 min

For many of us, life without the internet feels unimaginable. From work and education to socialising and accessing services, the vast online expanse we know as the World Wide Web has become central to our everyday lives.

But for about a third of the global population, staying connected isn’t an option - mainly due to poverty and inequality.

Now, a researcher at the University of Birmingham argues that this has to change, and that free internet access should be recognised as a fundamental human right.

That researcher is Dr Merten Reglitz, an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Birmingham, who has recently published a book called Free Internet Access as a Human Right.

In this book, Dr Reglitz makes the case that access to the internet is now essential for people to fully enjoy their human rights, like freedom of expression, privacy and access to education.

The book also highlights how many governments impose restrictions while social media giants often exploit user data for profit, and online spaces can expose people to harm, such as harassment or misinformation.

According to the researcher, a human right to internet access wouldn’t just mean being able to log on. It would also include protection against censorship and surveillance by both governments and corporations, as well as guarantees for safe and meaningful access.

Dr Reglitz's book drafts a proposal for this right, stating that everyone should be able to access and use the internet without interference. He also argues that governments must provide the infrastructure, resources, and skills needed for people to use the internet effectively and safely.

Global inequality - the biggest barrier to universal internet access

According to Dr Reglitz, one of the biggest barriers to universal internet access is global inequality. For the billions of people without internet, cost is often the biggest obstacle.

Dr Reglitz' book also argues that governments must provide the infrastructure, resources, and skills needed for people to use the internet effectively and safely.
Dr Reglitz' book also argues that governments must provide the infrastructure, resources, and skills needed for people to use the internet effectively and safely.

“Despite the internet being a vital part of modern life, access is still unequal [...] states must provide citizens with the tools they need to get online," said Dr Reglitz.

"These requirements might not be affordable for poorer countries, but a series of minimum core obligations would help them work towards free internet access as a human right.”

These minimum obligations would include a national broadband plan, developing networks to connect public venues to the internet, the researcher said. They would also involve joining an international organisation to access the funding needed to deliver free and fair access.

Dr Reglitz believes the "values and demands" in this step aren't just optional - they're essential to ensure "everyone possesses equal moral dignity" while living a decent life.

"Today, we live in societies that are ever-more characterised by the information flows and connections made possible by the digital world," he said. "Recognising and defending this right would have the potential to make the world a better place for everyone, with the help of the internet.”

Reference of the news:

University of Birmingham, published by Cambridge University Press, 2024.