Internet access is a privilege.

Introduction I would like to begin by thanking jamccartney for accepting my challenge. This is a very crucial topic, one that has been ignored by many. It is rather important, for it is a topic regarding all of us. Is internet access a right or is it a privilege? I intend to answer this question and I intend to prove that internet access is indeed a privilege. ArgumentsMy arguments will have a sophisticated structure and format. Each of my points will have a new heading. Defining the Internet Most of us think we know what the internet is. We only know the basics, however. I intend to define what the internet is so that we have some common ground. Mirriam Webster defines the internet as, "an electronic communications network that connects computer networks and organizational computer facilities around the world."What is a Privilege?Many of us utilize the term "privilege" without even knowing what it truly means. Again, I will utilize Mirriam Webster. A privilege is, "a right or benefit that is given to some people and not to others." A privilege is something you earn, something you worked for and/or have deserved through your behavior and actions. I argue that the internet is something you work for. You do not immediately reserve the right to access the internet. I intend to prove that. The Dangers of the InternetMost of us are aware of the sheer nature of the web, how dangerous it can be, the threat it poses, and how it impacts our society. I would like to seize the opportunity to remind my opponent of these dangers. The dangers of the net should be evident, but I will list a few of them anyway. My source provides the following information: "There are several ways in which the computer can be dangerous to users. The following is a partial list: It is possible to bring viruses into an individual computer or an entire network. These viruses can seriously disrupt or even destroy important work. Users can be spammed with vast quantitities of useless email. This overabundance of useless information can cause people to miss important information or to waste time wading through the useless information. People can be cheated by con artists who advertise seductive products on the Internet. Information that is presented as accurate or important may be inaccurate and misleading. Children may encounter information that their parents and teachers don't want them to encounter. Examples include sexually explicit content, hate literature, bomb-building information, confusing religious prosylitization, and misinformation about cults and satanic materials. People can be tempted to do illegal or improper things on the the Internet. Examples include gambling and the perpetration of pranks or criminal activity. Users can become addicted to the Internet." These must not be ignored. They are a part of the internet culture and we must accept that. We must acknowledge the dangers of the web and the threat is poses to our youth and even mature individuals. Of course, the internet is vast and there is reliable information on it somewhere, but the internet is a very dangerous tool when not utilized carefully. You cannot simply provide one internet access because it is a "right". They must be worthy of using it; they must earn that privilege. They must be responsible and careful with it. You cannot simply give it to them because you claim it to be a right. You must ensure they deserve the opportunity to utilize such a useful, yet dangerous tool. Internet Access is not a Right; it is a PrivilegeMany experts will agree with me here. The New York Times states, "technology is an enabler of rights, not a right itself. There is a high bar for something to be considered a human right. Loosely put, it must be among the things we as humans need in order to lead healthy, meaningful lives, like freedom from torture or freedom of conscience. It is a mistake to place any particular technology in this exalted category, since over time we will end up valuing the wrong things. For example, at one time if you didn’t have a horse it was hard to make a living. But the important right in that case was the right to make a living, not the right to a horse. Today, if I were granted a right to have a horse, I’m not sure where I would put it. The best way to characterize human rights is to identify the outcomes that we are trying to ensure. These include critical freedoms like freedom of speech and freedom of access to information — and those are not necessarily bound to any particular technology at any particular time. Indeed, even the United Nations report, which was widely hailed as declaring Internet access a human right, acknowledged that the Internet was valuable as a means to an end, not as an end in itself." This presents a great point, as a matter of fact. Humans have a right to information, but not necessarily a right to a specific means of obtaining that information, which, in this discussion, is the internet. Information can be accessed in other ways, by means of newspapers or other medias, not necessarily the internet. The internet can be used to cyberbully, hack, and manipulate. Other sources of information, like a newspaper or magazine, cannot be used the same way. I would like to ask my opponent how is the internet, in any way, a right? The Times continues with, "[i]mproving the Internet is just one means, albeit an important one, by which to improve the human condition. It must be done with an appreciation for the civil and human rights that deserve protection — without pretending that access itself is such a right."My next source states, "[i]t has been debated for several years, whether Internet access is a basic right or simply a privilege. Recently governments in the LATAM region have come to understand that access to broadband is a right similar to the right to education or healthcare. In the interconnected world we live in today, individuals and communities that do not have access to a broadband infrastructure cannot overcome the digital divide, and that is greatly inhibiting growth, education and prosperity. Fortunately today, many leaders are developing national broadband plans to ensure even the most remote areas have access to the Internet." This statement, depending on your interpretation of it, may seem like it is implying that internet access is a right, but it can be interpreted a different way. The people in those remote locations have done nothing wrong. They have earned the privilege. They deserve the privilege. They need the privilege. The New York Times has been a great asset so far, but I would also like to utilize the Huffington Post, another great source. The Post essentially says the same as the Times, but I would like to share it anyway as support: "Over the past few years, courts and parliaments in countries like France and Estonia have pronounced Internet access a human right. But that argument, however well meaning, misses a larger point: technology is an enabler of rights, not a right itself."Let's look at an example of an ex-convict. He was a cyberbully and child pornography distributor. He was caught, convicted, and released many years later. Does he deserve to use the internet again? Is is a right for him to visit it again? I say no. It is a privilege he must earn again. He must restore the people's trust in him and make them know that he is worthy. The FBI itself also has some input in this issue. The FBI website states this about cyber crime: "We lead the national effort to investigate high-tech crimes, including cyber-based terrorism, espionage, computer intrusions, and major cyber fraud. To stay in front of current and emerging trends, we gather and share information and intelligence with public and private sector partners worldwide." I urge my opponent to explore the FBI webpage. He will find many important facts about this issue. In his arguments, I would like for my opponent to answer this question:Does an individual with a history of crime and wrongdoing have the right to internet access, and if so, why? If my opponent answers with "Yes", I will gladly continue the debate.If my opponent answers with "No", the debate is essentially over. SummaryI will not deny that the internet can be a great source of information and an innovative form of communication. The fact of the matter, though, is that the internet can be abused and mishandled, unlike certain other sources of information, like newspapers and television news. Works Cited1. http://www.merriam-webster.com...2. http://www.merriam-webster.com...3. http://education.purduecal.edu...4. http://www.nytimes.com...5. http://globenet.net...6. http://www.huffingtonpost.com...7. http://www.fbi.gov...