Is Internet access a right or a privilege?

If you think getting online is a fundamental right, you aren’t alone. Almost 80 percent of people questioned for the BBC World Service share that view.

While the survey found that view was understandably more popular among current net users (89 percent), it had the backing of 70 percent of people who don’t currently have Internet access. Not surprisingly South Koreans were the most ardent supporters of the idea, with 96 percent of people from the country — known for its high-speed broadband culture — agreeing. Less predictably, Mexico was in second place at 94 percent.

The survey of users and non-users in 26 countries also found fraud is considered the most worrying aspect of the Internet, just ahead of violent or explicit content and privacy threats.

Finland wasn’t among the countries covered by the survey, but it would have been interesting to see the responses there: the country recently announced that broadband access will be a right for all citizens from July.

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