Is the Internet a right or a privilege?

[EmporerEJ]

Originally Posted by MikeSouth

Technically it may depend on how you define a "right"

legally speaking rights are not tangible things you have a right to bear arms for instance but that doesnt mean that you have the right to expect taxpayers to provide you with a gun

by the same token you may well argue that you have a right to purchase internet connectivity and I wouldnt disagree with you but you have no right legally or otherwise to force the government to give you internet service at the expense of taxpayers any more than they should be required to provide you with a gun.

rights are something you exercize not something that someone gives you.

Since we are slicing and dicing this issue, I take some exception with you on the "force the government to give you internet service at the expense of taxpayers" statement.


There is a tiny flicker of an argument for this statement. The "internet" or Darpanet/Arpanet was originally created with taxpayer's money, and so "belongs to the people."
It is still "controlled" to a degree by the government through various rules, regulations, sponsorships etc.
So, at it's core, it DOES belong "to the people." And to an extent, they ARE entitled to it, or at least, equal access. (And now we start the tier argument)