Internet Access is a Human Right

Most of the world’s Internet users believe Internet access is a basic human right. This is according to a new poll conducted for the BBC. A survey of more than 27,000 adults in 26 different countries found four out of five people believed access to the World Wide Web was a right everyone in the world needs and should have. The chief of the International Telecommunication Union, Dr. Hamadoun Toure, told the BBC World Service: "The right to communicate cannot be ignored. The Internet is the most powerful potential source of enlightenment ever created." Dr. Toure believes online access should be available everywhere, just like roads and water. In some countries, this has already happened. Finland and Estonia have laws saying access is a human right.

The survey also showed how the Internet is quickly becoming a vital part of our life, all across the world. Over 75 per cent of Japanese, Mexican and Russian people said they could not live without it. It is easy to see why. Almost everything we do in our life today, from communication, study, work and leisure needs the Internet. Without access to the Web, many people would feel helpless and powerless. Almost 80 per cent of those who took the survey believe the Web had a positive impact, with nearly four fifths saying they have greater freedom. Other people were worried about the dangers of using the Internet. One big surprise was that the majority of Germans felt it was not safe for them to express their opinions online.

Enlightenment: learning

Question 1. Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.
a) There are at least 2 countries with laws saying the Internet is a right.
b) Three-quarters of Mexicans cannot live without the Internet.
c) Nobody is concerned about the possible risks of the Internet
d) Most Germans surveyed were worried about freedom of expression..

Question 2. Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) Why is the Internet so necessary according to the text?
b) How would many people feel if they didn’t have access to the Internet?

Question 3. Find a word or a phrase in the text that means the same as
a) head (par.1) b) weak (par.2) c) to talk about (par.2)

Question 4. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning
a) "The right to communicate cannot be ignored. The Internet is the most powerful potential source of enlightenment ever created." Dr. Toure said
Dr. Toure said that ________________________________
b) People who have Internet access can do a lot of things.
If they ___________________________________________
c) Most people believe Internet access is a basic human right.
Internet access is _________________________________

Question 5. Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
Advantages and disadvantages of the Internet

Self-Access Group CEP Santander