Access to the Internet is a Basic Human Right
The charity, Citizens Online, welcomes today’s report from Martha Lane Fox, the government’s Digital Inclusion Champion highlighting that 10 million adults in the UK have never been online.
Citizens Online calls for commercial, charitable and Government organisations to treat access to the Internet as a fundamental human right and to recognise that they have a duty to promote access for those who require it.
The charity's chairman, Mark Adams, commented: “Demonstrating the economic impact of being online highlights the dramatic effect Internet access has on everyday lives. It’s now so significant that to be without Internet access is unfair, unjust and immoral and we ask that Internet providers, technology companies and Government consider access a basic Human Right and measure themselves against how they help or hinder access.”
With an investment of £4.5 million into digital inclusion projects over the past eight years across 23 UK locations, Citizens Online has delivered £45m of direct benefits which represents a return on investment of 10:1. Over 100,000 people have received training and support to get online and are now confident users.
The Charity today calls for:
>All public premises: schools, hospitals and Government buildings to provide free-access public WiFi
>All website operators: to comply with usability codes of practice for disabled users and be fined for non-compliance
>All technology vendors: to contribute with cash and actions to efforts in support of the human rights campaign and their duties to society
The Human Rights element to the Charity’s campaigning is a new development, and has come about because:
>Technology has proved itself an incredibly powerful social and economic force in society – a fact which the Digital Champion’s report now confirms
>A modern and just society must consider itself a failure if it denies or restricts enjoyment of these benefits by its citizens
>Society has become divided around technology and a gulf has opened up between the “haves” and “have nots”
>There is a duty of care by all who manufacture, develop and sell digital technology to ensure that their products and services can be used by all
Notes to Editors
Citizens Online (COL) http://www.citizensonline.org.uk
Citizens Online is an independent UK Charity formed in 2000 that is focused on ensuring that every member of society regardless of their income, educational attainment, skills and motivation has the opportunity to experience the social and economic benefits of the Internet and digital technologies.
The Charity’s programme “Everybody Online” has run for eight years targeted the most disadvantaged members of society to help them access the benefits of the Internet. Projects have run in 23 locations across the UK, helping over 100,000 people to get online. The programme has cost £4.5m and has generated independently verified economic benefits of £45m (return on investment of 9:1) at a cost of less than £35 per new user.
The “Access is a Human Right” campaign represents the charity’s belief that understanding and having the ability to use technology is a person’s fundamental right. Freedom of expression, education and participation can all be restricted by lack of access online. It is the duty of all to promote access and reduce restrictions on access.
Interview Availability: Tuesday 13 October, Contact details Mark Adams Chairman, Citizens Online 07801491610