Access to the internet should be as basic a right as getting free water
Media Monitoring Africa has called on the South African government to start regarding access to the internet for communication needs, as a basic human right.
The Media Monitoring Africa's executive director, William Bird, says South Africa is becoming a digital society and it is essential to have access to the internet.
“In order to function, in order to engage with government, in order to make your voice heard is essential to have access to the internet. That means it’s something closer to a facilitated right, it is the same effect as having success to water and electricity” says Bird.
The media monitoring testified before the Competition Commission's Data Services Market Inquiry on Wednesday.
Bird says the body is arguing for South African to have necessary amount to data, in the same way as citizens have basic access amount of water and electricity for free.
“Without that, all we are doing is simply entrenching and deepening the digital divide and deepening inequality in our society.”
“In order to function, in order to engage with government, in order to make your voice heard is essential to have access to the internet. That means it’s something closer to a facilitated right, it is the same effect as having success to water and electricity” says Bird.
The media monitoring testified before the Competition Commission's Data Services Market Inquiry on Wednesday.
Bird says the body is arguing for South African to have necessary amount to data, in the same way as citizens have basic access amount of water and electricity for free.
“Without that, all we are doing is simply entrenching and deepening the digital divide and deepening inequality in our society.”
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