Blog 3: Is the use of Facebook a Human Right?

Colleen Mills

11:06 PM

4 Jan 2011

When the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was created hundreds of years ago, it’s creators had no idea that it would eventually include the right to access the internet. Of course, they had yet to fathom the idea of what the internet even is. They had no idea that to basically survive and comfortably function in society in today’s times that it would become necessary to have access to almost every individual in the world. This interrelated network is how we function daily. People everywhere use it to express their ideas, concerns, opinions. They use it to talk to those who are thousands of miles away, to fall in love, and to network in terms of jobs and professional opportunities. Imagine having this necessity severed by your government and most importantly without approval by you. President Hosni Mubarak, Egypt’s president, committed such a crime.

With the issues of Facebook set aside, it comes as no surprise to find that Egypt’s citizen’s rights have been violated now for what seems like forever. They are now taking the initiative to begin tearing down the government’s forceful way of violating such rights. With the autocratic government in place and crumbling to the high hopes of democracy, it is very apparent that the Egyptian people have become increasingly independent on means of efficient and mass communication, to create such protests in opposition of their government and the government’s abusive ways.

In a BBC World Service Survey, it was concluded that “78 percent of urban Egyptians believed that access to the internet is a fundamental human right….” With this overwhelming majority, it can be concluded that it is vital that they are able to voice their opinions and organize opposition to the already weakening government.

As an interesting side note, the Egyptian leader actually signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sixty years ago. Surprising, I know.

My analysis follows as such: the cessation of internet in Egypt, short term or not, is a human rights violation that should not be overlooked. Although it may not be as severe as the brutal and physical violations, I believe that many underestimate the seriousness of having completely no access to the rest of the global community.

In America today, we utilize our internet access like it’s going out of style. Fortunately, we are not faced with a government that abuses our rights daily. It is my personal belief that in Egypt at this time, the people have more a right than ever to protest and utilize efficient means to organize such. If their ability to communicate through mass means is limited or non-existent, then how will they ever overthrow a government that has no right to govern? The Egyptians deserve a say in their future. They deserve to publicly voice their concerns and/or opinions just like the rest of the world. Most importantly, they deserve and are entitled to a way to organize long-overdue opposition.

http://wildcat.arizona.edu/perspectives/internet-shutdown-in-egypt-violates-human-rights-1.1962291