The Impact of the Internet on Human Rights

The Impact of the Internet on Human Rights

The Internet has been identified as a powerful enabler of human rights. The Internet is no longer a want but a need in modern society because it can be used as a medium of communication, connecting people and providing people with the freedom to express their ideas together with a platform where human creativity and innovation can be exercised (Lucchi, 2013). There is a rapid growth in internet utilization since it cuts across various aspects of people’s lives. In the contemporary world, more than three billion people enjoy online access, in that they can easily get news and information, read about their religion and culture, and market trends for various commodities. As countries continue to enjoy the benefits of free and open online access, they are still obligated to cushion their citizens against threats and illegal online activities (Lucchi, 2013). This paper will evaluate three impacts of the Internet on human rights, which may be positive or negative. Need help with your assignment ? Reach out to us. We offer excellent services.

Access to the Internet is critical in exercising socio-economic human rights, including but not limited to education, health, and access to jobs. In the modern world, access to the Internet fosters education in that it makes the student-teacher connection to become stronger. Utilizing a technology-enabled lesson plan makes it possible for teachers to open up their classrooms to a vast amount of knowledge and educational resources (Carr, 2013). Additionally, the presence of class websites allows students to download assignments, read through study materials, and watch supplemental videos. The interaction among class members can also be enhanced with email and messaging apps where they can ask questions, share their experiences in the course, and access additional learning resources (Carr, 2013).

Besides education, the growth in internet utilization has also positively impacted health, which is a socio-economic human right. A reliable and affordable internet access makes the provision of telehealth services possible. Telehealth services have been established to effectively address the gaps in mental health and substance use treatment. Moreover, telehealth is also a tool that can bridge racial/ethnic health disparities (Joyce, 2015). The latest review of telehealth services revealed that telehealth-delivered care was an effective measure in the treatment and management of various health conditions, including but not limited to depression, hypertension, and diabetes (Joyce, 2015). It also bridges the racial disparities in place in that the health care services are availed in the patient’s preferred language and the level of digital competencies.

Finally, the use of the Internet has changed access to jobs based on the positive effects of recruitment. With the aid of the Internet, recruitment has been made faster. During ancient times, candidates were compelled to wait for adverts on newspapers; they would then send mail-outs or do hand deliveries to respective organizations. This is no longer the case in the modern world, as employers can easily email a candidate and get a response within a few minutes of waiting. Initially, responses would take days or weeks to appear in a publication (Joyce, 2015). Also, the recruitment process can now occur on a larger scale. A recruiter with access to the Internet can post different job advertisements for various roles using emails, the organization’s special portal, or even an installed software system.

In summation, adopting the Internet in our daily lives has positively affected the three socio-economic human rights discussed in the paper above. One of the socio-economic human rights that has been positively affected by the Internet is education. Students do not have to go through the hustle and tussle of seeking books from the library and making short notes. Learning materials can easily be accessed from the Internet at the click of a button. This has resulted in students posting better grades with less struggle regarding revising for their examinations. On the topic of health, healthcare professionals can now use the Internet to dispense telehealth services to clients. Telehealth services are convenient modes of service delivery as the patient does not have to spend heavily on transport, is time-conscious, and necessitates a high level of precision in the delivery of care. Also, seeking jobs is now a simple process that involves uploading the cover letter and the curriculum vitae to respective employers. Also, the respective job seekers can easily get feedback from employees within a short while.

References

Carr, M. (2013). Internet freedom, human rights and power. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 67(5), 621-637.

Joyce, D. (2015). Internet Freedom and Human Rights. European Journal of International Law, 26(2).

Lucchi, N. (2013). Internet content governance and human rights. Vand. J. Ent. & Tech. L., 16, 809.

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The Impact of the Internet on Human Rights

After conducting independent research using at least three sources not used in the class write an essay that illustrates the impact of the Internet on Human Rights (In a pinch you should review the UN Declaration on Human Rights if you get stuck).