this post was submitted on 27 Sep 2025
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Considering how much of our existence is online these days, it seems like denying people the means to participate is almost like denying their right to exist.

I'd like to see a world where everyone has the capability to shape this digital space in a fair and accessible manner.

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[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 69 points 1 week ago (6 children)

Yes it should be a basic human right.

But with that said, it shouldn't be a basic human expectation. There should always be simpler alternatives to basic daily needs, not everyone has access to the internet, nor does everyone even have the mentality to fully utilize modern technology.

Also, fuck touchscreens in cars. /rant

[–] TabbsTheBat@pawb.social 24 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Car touch screens are the dumbest thing ever lol. "You can't use your phone behind the wheel, so we mounted this giant phone to your car!"

[–] Broadfern@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago

Yay lobbying! /s

[–] TheRealKuni@piefed.social 2 points 1 week ago (3 children)

I remember when the Tesla Model 3 was pretty new, there was a guy who got pulled over and filmed the interaction. The cop told him he needed to put away the iPad. He kinda chuckled, thinking the cop was joking. But the cop was serious. So he had to explain to the cop that the giant-ass screen was built into the car.

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[–] BussyGyatt@feddit.org 14 points 1 week ago

The right to access must necessarily include the right not to access. Freedom of religion is meaningless if you're not also free to reject religion. Freedom of speech is meaningless if you've no right to remain silent. etc.

[–] WhatGodIsMadeOf@feddit.org 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Fuck algorithms and society getting raped by marketing manipulation, and then blaming the same people it manipulated and abused for the problems caused.

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

GOD - Government On Device...

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[–] weaponG@lemmy.world 21 points 1 week ago (4 children)

No. Access to clean air, drinkable water, healthcare, and a fair living wage are more important and should come first.

Maslow's Heirarchy of Needs

[–] thermal_shock@lemmy.world 17 points 1 week ago

Both can be true, so you can still say yes, then prioritize.

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[–] fossilesque@mander.xyz 20 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

Absolutely and unquestionably, even the US government has a page on it lol.

https://www.state.gov/internet-freedom-and-technology-and-human-rights/

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Don't let the orange menace see that, he'll have it erased...

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[–] P00ptart@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] fossilesque@mander.xyz 2 points 1 week ago

Lmao I was shocked to see it in the first place.

[–] Trainguyrom@reddthat.com 19 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I would argue the opposite, that the ability to participate in society without using a computer should be a right, and included with that should be a non-descrimination requirement as well. Shoving everyone into using a web form/app is not acceptable but it is a growing reality in too many private and public spaces (and also if I just want to quickly pay for parking why oh why can I not just shove cash or my card into a reader like you could for the last 30 years! No I don't want your stupid app!)

[–] Wizard_Pope@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago

So not only do I have to pay for parking I have to download a stupid app so you fucks can harvest my data and sell it later. Fucking greedy cunts.

[–] bigfondue@lemmy.world 17 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

I think food, clean water, medicine, and education should probably come first.

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[–] Hegar@fedia.io 16 points 1 week ago

Information should be a utility, like water, phone or electricity.

Ideally there should be publicly owned tier 1 ISP, but failing that there should be minimum standards of service provision like with other utilities.

[–] TaterTot@piefed.social 15 points 1 week ago

Yes. But also, lets remember most countries are still in the kiddie pool of "is food a basic human right?". So you know, dream big, but keep expectations in check.

[–] ininewcrow@lemmy.ca 9 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Yes

And also, the major internet services and social media platforms should be publicly controlled and owned like postal services, medical services, water services or waste services (I know most American services are private, even in Canada) but all these services should be publicly controlled without private interests because they are the basis of running and maintaining peaceful democratic norms.

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[–] NovaSel@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago

Yes, but so should water, electricity, healthcare etc, so it doesn't look like that's happening

[–] theneverfox@pawb.social 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

No. A year ago I would have said yes, but I've come to realize some uncomfortable truths.

The Internet is dying, the parts that will remain are able to manipulate users, and actively doing so to create a global rise of distopian authorization surveillance states

I think we can either have an underground Internet of technical minded people, or you get a weapon that will be used against the people

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[–] Octavio@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago

No. It should be declared a public health hazard and anyone who was exposed should be entitled to significant financial compensation.

Just kidding.

Mostly.

[–] s@piefed.world 6 points 1 week ago

I think education and access to general information is a human right. However, there might be cases where a direct internet connection may be logistically impossible to provide or it may be the wrong choice for a particular person. For example, a person in jail for cleverly hacking computer systems could potentially cause problems if they are allowed to use a computer while imprisoned; in this case, a warden with a paper printer acting as a proxy may be the best option to bring them requested information posted online. There is also some media online that could be harmful to rehabilitation and is in the prisoners’ and the prison’s best interests to refuse access to, such as violent internet content provoking those who are recovering from a history of violence.

Having the right to post online is a separate issue and should typically be determined by whom the host site chooses to provide or deny service to; for example, John Hinckley Jr., who attempted to assassinate Ronald Reagan, was able to post his music on YouTube prior to his release. Restraining orders can also apply to online spaces to protect victims from further harm.

[–] fading_person@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 week ago

I think specifying the technology isn't a good idea, and can lead to loopholes in the future.

[–] AceFuzzLord@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 week ago

If not a basic human right, it should be something very close to it. Obviously things like privacy, food, clean water, medicine, education, and basics like that should come first, but having Internet and computer/phone access has basically become a necessity and should probably be treated like a basic human right at this point.

Trying to apply for a job? Majority of places anymore require you apply online before you can even land an interview. Even then, there's a chance you'll have to do an online call for that interview.

Need to do school work like writing an essay or any coding/programming? You sure as hell ain't getting that done without a computer anymore and can't always rely on doing it at school.

[–] TabbsTheBat@pawb.social 6 points 1 week ago

I think internet is considered a human right in europe :3.. I know that were multiple cases of countries getting called out for not allowing prisoners access at least

[–] Geth@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 1 week ago

10 years ago I would have said yes, absolutely, because I was young and naive. Today not so much. Although I don't think lack of internet is the solution to containing the crazy of society since they managed to spread that without internet in the past just fine. Its just that this iteration of crazy feels like it was specifically pushed through the current internet we have.

[–] besselj@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Considering how necessary it is to exist and thrive in the developed world, I'd say yes. Good luck getting by without email or accessing online services without reliable internet access.

[–] skisnow@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 week ago

I’d like to see a world where everyone has the capability to shape this digital space in a fair and accessible manner.

From the title I was thinking about stuff like access to online banking, transport, news, remote working etc, which absolutely is essential for participating in modern society. But "shape this digital space" sounds a lot like social media, which I'd be more than happy to see completely burned to the ground. I'm here very much against my better judgement.

[–] Nemo@midwest.social 5 points 1 week ago

Human rights are the ones we have by virtue of being human. Since we were human before the Internet, it's a little shaky. But at the same time, part of being human is assing down information from one generation to the next, and the Internet is a means to do that. I think both arguments have their merits, and I'm not in favor of access bring legally restricted in any case.

[–] incentive@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 week ago

100% a human right. If you don't have the internet today you kind of can't exist easily.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Access to information should definitely be a human right and the internet is currently the best method of enabling that.

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[–] DreamAccountant@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Absolutely. People should have access to information. Scientifically proven information.

If you can't prove it, then shut the fuck up.

Every publication is a billionaire's 'national inquirer" of random bullshit. Every fucking online platform is heavily influenced by, if not owned by rich assholes. The christian nazi propaganda never, ever stops through all forms of media.

Fuck them all. Prove it or shut up.

[–] theherk@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago (7 children)

Science doesn’t happen just one time. Something being “proven” is generally part of rigorous math, not other sciences. It grows and changes, dissent being a big part of it, over time. I agree with you that people should have access to information, but limiting which is fraught with problems.

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[–] midtsveen@lemmy.wtf 5 points 1 week ago

I have nothing but contempt for what the internet has become under corporate control, and yet here I am on Lemmy, posting like it’s some late-60s experiment in collective culture and community.

Given how much of our survival and daily needs are tied to technology, access to the internet absolutely should be considered a basic human right. In modern times, being cut off from the digital world often means being cut off from employment, education, healthcare, and even your bank in some places.

But we should also be imagining a world where life doesn’t have to revolve around being online 24/7. A humane society would guarantee universal access, while also freeing us from the coercive pressure to be constantly connected just to meet our basic needs.

[–] Fyrnyx@kbin.melroy.org 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

No.

Here's my reasoning. For example, when pedophiles are caught online, they have their internet access revoked as part of the punishment to their crimes. If you feel that accessing computers and the internet should be a basic right, you are saying that this pedophile's 'right' to use a computer and the internet is infringed, despite doing a considerably awful thing.

And that's something I just cannot simply get behind.

Furthermore, the internet has been contested numerous times and moreso than ever, about the legitimacy of the information on it. We've been going through a few awful periods where right now, information is being fixed and rigged to favor certain political ideologies, pseudoscience and outright bias. I have always been told that everything that is on the internet should always be taken with a grain of salt. I would rather we have a right to a library than we have a right to information on the internet.

If everyone is complaining so much about the 'damages' of social media, what would making the internet be branded a 'right' improve? Great, you have to the right now, to be lied to and misinformed. Good on ya!

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[–] T00l_shed@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago

There is an argument to be made for that yeah

[–] altkey@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I'd counter, but realistically just add to your sentiment by vouching for having non-online alternatives for most of our needs. Banking and government's services in my country are on the edge of going full web/sim-driven, and I don't like it that way. If I happen to get the delivery from my post office, they default to sms confirmation, and I'm not sure if I can get my parcel just by showing my ID card.

Internet access should be a human right, just as avoiding it should.

[–] DreamAccountant@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

True. Not all people can or want to be slaved to a portable telephone device.

You have to pay with your phone app, and they refuse to take cash? Screw that.

You only have menus if you scan a QR code? Fuck them.

Oh, your manual is now just a QR code? Awesome. /s

[–] FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 week ago

In modern times, given how much we rely on them, yes. Everyone should have the right to access the internet.

[–] Katana314@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

I remember when I stuck to a flip phone while my friends were obsessing over smart phones. Yet, I admit that the way the world moves now, it’s a pretty clear need. One of the core human needs is interaction, and such a huge proportion of it happens online. Whether you’re looking at subjects of employment, or even just finding community, it’s a struggle otherwise.

I still enjoy meeting people out on the street, but you can’t make as many meaningful contacts that way anymore.

[–] Mr_Dr_Oink@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

I want to say yes. Because it is absolutely so necessary to life these days.

But i equally want to say no! You should need to get an internet drivers licence for that shit! Some people are so susceptible to scams, fake news and propaganda that having access to a rectangle that thrusts it down your throat, pretty much unfiltered, is fucking dangerous.

It doesn't need to be in every world, but it does in this one, where so much shit you need is only on the computer. Some things they simply do not stock in stores anymore.

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