We need to establish free internet access as a standalone human right – New Scientist

Report on Universal Internet Access and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Current State of Global Digital Inequality

Analysis of 2024 data reveals a significant global digital divide, which presents a substantial barrier to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This gap in connectivity exacerbates existing inequalities and impedes progress across multiple development sectors.

• Connectivity Gap: According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 2.6 billion people, representing nearly one-third of the global population, remained without internet access in 2024.
• Restrictions on Access: Freedom House reported that over 75% of internet users reside in countries where individuals face arrest for online expression of political, social, or religious views.
• Censorship: Nearly two-thirds of all global internet users were subject to online censorship, limiting access to information and undermining fundamental freedoms.

2.0 Internet Access as a Prerequisite for Sustainable Development

Free and unimpeded internet access is a critical enabler for the realization of numerous human rights and is intrinsically linked to the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In the contemporary digital world, access to the internet is fundamental for achieving progress in key areas.

1. SDG 4 (Quality Education): The internet provides essential access to educational resources and platforms, particularly in regions where physical schools are inadequate or inaccessible.
2. SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) & SDG 1 (No Poverty): Online public services are increasingly becoming the primary means of accessing healthcare information, financial services, and banking, especially in underserved communities.
3. SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Digital connectivity is essential for participation in the modern economy, enabling entrepreneurship and access to employment opportunities.
4. SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Universal internet access is a foundational step toward reducing inequalities by providing equitable opportunities for all individuals to access information and services.

3.0 Framework for Achieving Universal Connectivity (SDG 9 & SDG 17)

Achieving universal broadband coverage by 2030, a core component of SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), is an ambitious but necessary goal. The ITU estimates a required investment of $428 billion. This investment necessitates global partnerships and international financial support, aligning with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

3.1 Feasible Minimum Connectivity Standards

A baseline for meaningful connectivity that supports sustainable development includes:

• Universal 4G mobile broadband network coverage.
• Permanent access to a smartphone for all individuals.
• Affordable data plans, costing no more than 2% of the monthly gross national income per capita for 2GB.
• Widespread opportunities for acquiring basic digital skills, directly contributing to SDG 4 targets.

4.0 Challenges to Meaningful Access: Security, Privacy, and SDG 16

The quality of internet access is as crucial as its availability. The misuse of digital technologies poses a direct threat to human rights and the principles of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

• State-level Threats: The use of the internet for population surveillance, censorship of information, and online propaganda transforms it from a tool of empowerment into one of repression.
• Corporate-level Threats: The collection of private data for profit maximization and the failure of social media corporations to combat disinformation and abuse on their platforms undermine user rights and social cohesion.

5.0 Recommendations: Establishing a Human Right to Internet Access

To ensure the internet serves as a medium for human progress and the achievement of the SDGs, it is recommended that free internet access be recognized as a standalone human right by the United Nations and its member states. This recognition would establish clear obligations for governments and corporations.

1. State Obligations: Governments would be legally bound to respect internet users’ privacy, refrain from censorship, and actively work to provide universal access, thereby strengthening institutions and justice as per SDG 16.
2. Corporate Responsibility: Businesses, particularly technology and social media companies, would be mandated to respect human rights, protect personal data, and implement robust measures to fight disinformation and online abuse.

Establishing this right is a critical political action required to harness the internet’s full potential for the benefit of all humanity and to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article connects internet access directly to education, stating that it allows people to become “better educated” and that online services can serve as “feasible alternatives to absent… schools.” This highlights the role of digital access in achieving inclusive and equitable quality education.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The text argues that connecting the offline population would have “enormous benefits, as it would allow people to become… more economically active.” This links universal internet access to promoting sustained, inclusive economic growth and productivity.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  This is a central theme of the article. The call for “universal broadband coverage by 2030” and affordable internet access relates directly to building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive industrialization, and fostering innovation, with a specific focus on information and communications technology (ICT).

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article opens by highlighting the “digital divide,” noting that “2.6 billion people – nearly a third of humanity – remained offline.” This gap in access to technology is a significant form of inequality, and bridging it is essential for the social, economic, and political inclusion of all people.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

  The article discusses how the internet is used for repression, including censorship, spying on citizens, and online propaganda. It calls for states to respect users’ privacy and protect fundamental freedoms online, which aligns with the goal of ensuring public access to information and protecting fundamental rights.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 4.4: Relevant skills for employment

  The article mentions the importance of “opportunities for acquiring basic digital skills.” This directly corresponds to Target 4.4, which aims to substantially increase the number of youth and adults with relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment and entrepreneurship.

• Target 8.2: Promote economic productivity through diversification and technology

  The claim that internet access helps people become “more economically active” aligns with this target. Universal access to technology is a key driver for upgrading economic productivity and fostering innovation across various sectors.

• Target 9.c: Universal and affordable access to ICT

  This target is explicitly addressed. The article’s call to “establish universal broadband coverage by 2030” and ensure “affordable data” for all directly reflects the ambition of Target 9.c to significantly increase access to ICT and provide universal and affordable internet access.

• Target 10.2: Empower and promote social, economic and political inclusion

  By advocating for the connection of the 2.6 billion people who are offline, the article supports the goal of this target. Internet access is presented as a fundamental tool for enabling the inclusion of all individuals in the digital society and economy, regardless of their location or economic status.

• Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms

  The article’s focus on online censorship, arrests for online content, and government spying directly relates to this target. The call for a human right to internet access is framed as a way to “demand that states respect internet users’ privacy” and protect rights, ensuring that the freedoms people have offline are also protected online.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Proportion of the population without internet access

  The article explicitly states, “In 2024, 2.6 billion people – nearly a third of humanity – remained offline.” This statistic serves as a direct indicator for measuring the gap in universal access, relevant to Target 9.c.

• Affordability of internet access

  A specific, measurable indicator is provided: “affordable data that costs no more than 2 per cent of monthly gross national income per capita for 2GB.” This metric, from the Broadband Commission, is used to track progress towards affordable access under Target 9.c.

• Prevalence of digital skills

  The mention of providing “opportunities for acquiring basic digital skills” implies the need for an indicator to measure the proportion of the population with such skills, which is directly related to Indicator 4.4.1 (Proportion of youth and adults with ICT skills).

• Restrictions on online freedom

  The article cites data from Freedom House as indicators of repression: “more than three-quarters of those who had internet access lived in countries where people were arrested for posting political, social or religious content online,” and “almost two-thirds of all global internet users were subject to online censorship.” These statistics can be used to measure the protection of fundamental freedoms under Target 16.10.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: newscientist.com