Your Right to Technology

Filed in archive News on October 23, 2009

© Photodeus


Finland has become the first country to make Broadband access a legal right for its citizens. An article at TechCrunch praises this unprecedented move. Imagine a world where everyone can access the internet.

Don't get me wrong, other countries in Europe and across the world spend money trying to get more online access to its citizens. However, Finland has enacted laws to support this new right. The question now stands: Is online access a right? Or better yet should it be?

It strikes me as a fundamentally important question that no one seems to be discussing in the tech world. We cheer online access and the 5.5million people who will get guaranteed broadband but will other countries follow in Finland's foot steps?

Not to veer too far off the technology path into the realms of politics and philosophy but take a moment to consider what actually makes a "human right". And if its not a human right is it still a legitimate guarantee, just one that should be called by a different name?

No matter what your thoughts on broadband access or on the role of government the concept is worth considering. Finland has opened a new frontier in the realm of technology and how people should be allowed to interact with it.

What do you think about Finland making broad band access a right?