UN Declares Internet Freedom a Basic Right

The United Nations Human Rights Council has passed a landmark resolution (PDF) declaring that internet freedom is a basic human right. They wrote: "...the same rights that people have offline must also be protected online, in particular freedom of expression, which is applicable regardless of frontiers and through any media of one’s choice, in accordance with articles 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights." The council also called upon all countries to 'promote and facilitate access to the Internet.' The article points out that this comes alongside a report from the Pew Internet Center, which asked a group of internet stakeholders how they think firms in the private sector will handle the ethical issues that arise with countries wanting to censor or restrict internet access. The responses were varied, but skepticism was a recurring theme: 'Corporations will work around regional differences by spinning off subsidiaries, doing what's needed to optimize on future profits.'"

Re:Ok Then.

[GameboyRMH]

Maybe if they all go onto Second Life and get slaughtered by Assad's flying penis swarms the UN will put a stop to that.

They could do A LOT!

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, that oughta do it. Thanks guys. Considering they can't find a way to stop Assad from using tanks on his own people, I wouldn't hold my breath that the UN is going to come to your aid when Comcast decides to throttle your netflix stream...

I would go to the UN, complain and then the UN may send a strongly worded letter to Comcast!

Comcast would rue the day they crossed the UN!

Re:Ok Then.

[game kid]

First they came for the netflix streams, and I didn't speak out because my plea to be saved from the abusive, well-armed government officer at my door wasn't a netflix stream.

***CENSORED***

[Anonymous Coward]

haha ***CENSORED*** the ***CENSORED*** really is ***CENSORED***

***CENSORED***,

John

Re:Ok Then.

[PopeRatzo]

Maybe if the USA would stop sending arms shipments to insurgent terror groups opposed to Assad he wouldn't feel the need to crackdown so much?

But those arms manufacturers are the Job Creators! And it would be immoral not to let them flood the world with weapons.

Arms manufacturers are people, my friend.

[next up: "Guns are people, Supreme Court decides in landmark case"]

Re:Ok Then.

[PopeRatzo]

One second... does this mean that guns DO kill people? Or just that people kill guns... my head hurts.

Oh, and it gets worse. Even when it's inside a gun, a bullet is the same as a fully developed gun, with all the rights of those guns.

And removing a bullet from a gun any way besides being fired through the barrel, is considered murder.