access to new technologies, especially the Internet, as an instrument for the full exercise of fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and the right to information should include:
1. Access to computers and networks for the use of new technologies.
2. Education in the use of new technologies.
3. Promoting information literacy to as many users as possible.
4. Promoting the creation of content relevant to the general population. "
Commitment to Freedom of Expression 2009
NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Clara Luz Álvarez *
There is not a freedom lost forever and forever conquered freedom: the story is a dramatic fabric of freedom and oppression, new freedoms to answering new oppressions, from old oppressions killed, rediscovered new freedoms, new and old oppressions imposed lost freedoms (...) freedom is old but its problems are always new and are constantly replaced in response to ever-new forms of oppression that appear on the horizon history (...) Every time that certain claims of liberty are met, new ones emerge, man since the problem of their own liberation in increasingly deeper levels.
Norberto Bobbio
I. Freedom of expression and access to Internet
In the past, the Gutenberg printing press encouraged the dissemination of contributing to the political process and at the same time, there would be ways restrict freedom of expression and dissemination printed texts by the press. In today's world, Internet access is essential for the full exercise and enjoyment of fundamental rights. Therefore, it must provide access to the Internet as a means to that freedom of expression and the right to information in the new context-that of the Information Society, "will be undertaken and fully engaged. Internet access, as described in paragraph III of this article-demand (1) physical access and technology that includes having a computer (eg., Computer) and access to telecommunications networks ( eg. through the phone line), (2) digital literacy that enables people to use the Internet, and (3) the availability of relevant content to the people concerned.
The free dissemination of opinions and ideas is part of freedom of expression, so that a restriction on disclosure or dissemination of views and ideas would violate this fundamental right . American Court of Human Rights has ruled that "the expression and dissemination of thoughts and ideas are indivisible. A restriction on dissemination represents directly, and to the same extent, limit the right of free expression " .
Consequently, when a state restricts access to Internet or limits the possibilities to find or disseminate information on the Internet, is violating freedom of expression and the right to information. The advent of the Internet has given rise to new oppression to freedom of expression and the right to information. Examples are the various measures the government of the Republic of Cuba as when prohibiting the purchase of computers, or to limit the use of cell phones, or having to register and certify the identity card before using the Internet an Internet café, or those of the People's Republic of China consisting of blocking access to certain Internet sites and pursue against the government for expressing their ideas through email.
Under the pretext of the "risks in the Internet" (which by the way risks are already present in the physical world), a State may not impose restrictions on freedom of expression and the right to information through the refusal or conditional access to the Internet or by omitting to provide for its population it is necessary to use the Internet (Eg., Lack of digital literacy). If the State deny or restrict access to the Internet or omitted to provide for it, would be violating both the freedom of expression and the right to information, to undermine the exercise of these rights.
Recommendation on measures to promote the value of public Internet service in the European Union, explicitly states that states must guarantee access to the Internet and technology information and communication technologies (ICTs) as part of protection and respect for freedom of expression and the right to information, regardless of whether they should ensure there are no limitations to them.
Poullet says that ICT promote freedom of expression and information, like democracy, considering that the right of access to public information of the citizen allows it to be consulted and directly involved in the decision process. Such access to public information represents an interactive dialogue between the government and its citizens. Therefore, the State has the duty to eliminate barriers to access ICT services to solve the problem of lack of access for all its citizens. Otherwise, society would be divided into the haves and those who do not have Internet access, with consequent effects on the ethical and social justice and democracy.
If ICT is promoting freedom of expression and the right to information, influence the democratic regime and the state is obliged to remove barriers for an issue of equality of the governed, this implies that the State must provide Internet access or create the conditions to make it a reality for all his constituents (eg., network deployment incentives, public-private sector partnerships for digital literacy, stimuli relevant content creators). This obligation of government to provide Internet access or create the conditions for it, it becomes a guarantee of freedom of expression and the right to information by making it possible to exercise these fundamental rights which impact on the democratic level of a country.
In short, the Internet allows access to be fully implemented freedom of expression and the right to information, while complying with the rights of liberty and equality enabling members of society. Otherwise, continue to exist excluded from the digital world's information and lacking the means to express, while those who do have access to the Internet can effectively enjoy those rights, develop their personality and have greater autonomy in deciding their life project, whether they have more job opportunities and social interaction.
II. Vs mass media. Internet
As for the production of content and media ownership in stark contrast the difference between the mass media such as radio and television the Internet. This distinction is generating substantial changes in the way of exercising the right to information in the space of expression of individuals and groups under-represented and marginalized, democracy, as well as ways to disseminate information.
The traditional mass media (eg., Radio and television) have a centralized control exercised jointly or separately by their owners and governments. Radio and television, for example, requires that governments give the broadcasters the right to use radio spectrum to broadcast its programming, regardless of broadcast content are also subject to special regulation. This is accentuated in countries that exercises strict control over mass media.
On the contrary, to have a website, displaying content on this or make use of the Internet, does not require government authorization, except in certain authoritarian regimes. Therefore, the Internet has low barriers to entry and they are similar both for those who placed content and those who access it.
As audiences, radio and television are generally considered passive, even when there is research that reflect participation more active when audiences reinterpret the meaning of messages. The possibilities for ordinary citizens to exercise their freedom of expression through radio, television or print media is limited and depends on decisions made by managers and editors of media. The editors, producers and journalists make decisions about what items are included in the broadcasts and how they are presented, making it a kind of guardian. Additionally, the pattern of radio, television and print media to broadcast information is uni-directionally from a point to be received by many, but usually there is interactivity.
The Internet allows anyone to be a producer of content, can be expressed in ways previously unimaginable. The Internet user becomes the actor be able to participate actively. In particular, in countries where strict control is exercised by the mass media, the Internet is an alternative to the expression of the people.
electronic information sources complement other sources such as newspapers, radio and television, without having been proven to date that cyberspace will replace such media. It is foreseeable that in the political arena to change the behavior patterns of access to cyberspace. "[The distribution lists in email, web sites and mobility] solve some of the basic limitations of commercial mass media and concentrates, such as being the main platform for the public sphere in contemporary complex democracies."
Wong notes that the Internet has been the ideal channel for freedom of expression and to exercise the right to information on government schemes such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and China have imposed restrictions on Internet access and / or media content control as a way limit such rights. Also, the author highlights how some Asian governments on the one hand drive the Internet as a means to strengthen the economy and trade, and on the other hand, try to restrict the full use of the Internet.
The Internet is a tool for expression activists in cyberspace, it faces threats from governments seeking to limit access by a variety of reasons, for example, the decision whether or not content is appropriate, and whether encryption should be allowed to hamper the government communications communications involved.
Internet cafes are an example of new opportunities for access to exercise freedom of expression and the right to information. Further, where Internet cafes exist the possibility of printing, the prints used to disseminate ideas off the cyber world. Wong reports that in Indonesia when Suharto regime forbade the publication of three leading journals, some of these magazines staff decided to disseminate information on a website. Thus, despite the magazine find banned, journalists were able to upload information to the Internet and the population had access to it directly online or, later, in print when it was released.
Finally, we must remember that there are campaigns to send emails to leaders to protest against certain actions such as spearheaded by the Human Rights Centre Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez of Mexico to protest the unjust imprisonment of indigenous women Jacinta Francisco Marcial. As for web sites, Care2 is the site where you can start campaigns to raise awareness and collect signatures in several categories such as education, human rights, environment and protection of animal life, health, politics, art and culture. Anyone can start a campaign to collect signatures in favor of certain actions or in protest of others, and the rest of those wishing to sign the petition in question, they can do online. This site Care2 web at April 17, 2010 had over 1,895,508 campaigns and had collected more than 45 million signatures for the campaign he has undertaken.
III. Physical access to the Internet, digital literacy and relevant content
access to ICTs, and particularly the Internet-a physical and technological level, is intimately connected with other requirements as digital literacy and the availability of content relevant to the population. Internet access without the knowledge to use meaningless. Dutton refers to social scientists argue correctly that computer technology is both physical and knowledge and skills to use.
physical access. Traditionally, access to ICT is mainly referring to physical access. This is essential and without it, ICT training is irrelevant. For access to the Internet (physical) technically requires the physical deployment of telecommunications networks, terminal equipment the user (eg., computer) and physical access from end-user facilities (eg., user's home or community center) to telecommunication networks. Remember that the Internet is the network of networks consisting of multiple telecommunications networks, for simplicity, can be classified into access networks between the end user's premises and the telecommunications network, and transport networks are those link cities, countries and regions to the Internet using the information that can send / receive world as if it were a single network.
physical access to the Internet is required to availability of the user's computer equipment and Internet access service. Computer equipment requires computer programs (software) that enables the use of certain software and to avoid their deactivation (eg., Antivirus). The availability of Internet access service is predetermined by the deployment of telecommunications networks in the locality concerned or a short distance. Additionally, it is necessary to have electricity either through the grid of the region or country, or self-generated electricity (eg., Solar cells).
Internet access across the board states that personal computers are accessible and affordable. Affordability means that the price is reasonable in the circumstances of the country or region concerned. It also requires that teams, web sites and content are accessible. If technology is a design and / or functionality that are not accessible to everybody, so a disabled person, temporarily or permanently will be prevented from accessing the Internet. Therefore, access to the Internet needs of equipment and Internet features accessible.
digital literacy. Increasingly recognizing the importance of human factors and the need to change the belief that what is important is to connect networks to consider more relevant now connecting people to the network. One of the greatest barriers to Internet access is the lack of knowledge and skills to use computers, so action is needed to raise awareness of the benefits of the Internet, while computer literacy is taught.
UNESCO has noted that:
Member States and international organizations should promote and facilitate "digital literacy", which includes activities to disseminate technologies information and communication and to provide certainty and confidence in their application and use. The development of "human capital" of the information society, and especially a school open, integrated and intercultural combined with the acquisition of the skills needed to manage information technology and communication is of paramount importance. ICT training should not be limited to technical competence but should also include an awareness of ethical principles and values.
UNESCO itself has been reported that the current world demand, the marginal benefit of information-level, develop skills in new technologies and applying them as they acquire . He acknowledged that the prerequisites for access to cyberspace are basic education and literacy in general.
Dutton said that illiteracy is one reason social division that affects countries with low literacy levels and to cities and industrial regions with low education or minority languages. So that "knowledge [knowhow] or competence in ICT, which some call literacy in IT [information technology] or ICT has become a capacity because it supports the use of technology which can significantly improve the communicative power of the person. "
The European Union has warned of the serious risk of exclusion of people with digital literacy and those without adequate access to ICT. Therefore has urged its member states to promote education to all people so that they have the skills to use ICT, including skills to access and use ICT.
The Committee of Ministers of the European Union adopted a Recommendation on measures to promote the value of public service Internet in which he stressed the importance of developing policies for the protection of human rights and respect for the rule of law in the information society on the right to education, specifically including media literacy and information. Additionally, the recommendation noted that Member States should develop strategies especially for:
(...) promote the integration of ICT in education and promote media literacy and information and training in formal and non-formal education for children and adults with the purpose of: a. give them the ability to use media technologies effectively to create, access, store, retrieve and share content to achieve their needs and interests and the community; b. promote the exercise of their democratic rights and civic responsibilities effectively; c. encourage them to make informed decisions when using the Internet and other ICT through the use and reference in various forms and media content from different cultural and institutional sources, understanding how and why media content is produced, critically analyzing techniques , language and conventions used by the media and the messages they convey, and identifying the content and media services unsolicited, offensive or harmful (...).
relevant content. Access to Internet content available to everyone or not it is useful without the ability to leverage the functionality of Internet or unable to conduct e-commerce, is somewhat empty. The content must be relevant, reflecting the cultural and linguistic diversity. Not to be overlooked in the Internet there is much content, but this may not be intelligible to many people because of the language. Much of the content on the Internet is in English, so a person who can not or do not master English does not benefit in any way for such content.
programs deployment infrastructure must go hand in hand with programs to generate relevant content. The content can be news or entertainment for local people, support in software to small businesses, family or interest groups and online forums to discuss local issues. Intervention Government support is important to generate local interest content which contributes to the development of the Internet and that content is relevant to the country's population.
IV. Final thoughts
UNESCO has highlighted the state on information societies and knowledge that:
(...) la libertad de expresión es la condición sine qua non del objetivo de “autonomía” anteriormente mencionado. El ejercicio de ésta exige una observancia estricta de los derechos cuyo progreso ha de acompañar la expansión de las nuevas tecnologías (ausencia de censura o control de la información, libre circulación de los datos e informaciones, pluralismo de los media [sic] y libertad de prensa). (…) Si se respetan plenamente, la libertad de expresión y la libertad de investigación científica y de creación permiten construir auténticas sociedades del conocimiento gracias al desarrollo de una sociedad mundial de la información. Hacer hincapié en la libertad de expresión amounts to emphasize the spirit of openness and dialogue that should govern relations between individuals and social groups within knowledge societies. Without freedom of speech, no exchanges or public debates. Freedom of expression is guaranteed the vitality of the links between individuals in a given society. Without freedom of expression, knowledge may exist, but no one will be sharing the same or not there will be a knowledge society.
New technologies are revolutionizing the contemporary societies and can bring many benefits if people have equal opportunities for access to them. In particular access to the Internet has proved a means for the full exercise of freedom of expression and the right to information for which you need physical access to computers / telecommunications infrastructure, computer literacy and content relevant to communities.
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