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New Delhi
The Supreme Court on Friday chose to disagree with Vinton G. Cerf, considered one of the ‘fathers of the internet’, when he said internet can’t be elevated to the status of a human right and went on to declare ‘access to Internet’ a “constitutionally protected” right under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
Cerf maintained technology was an enabler of rights and not a right in and of itself as he desisted from placing technology among the exalted category of other human rights, such as the freedom of conscience, equality etc.
“With great respect to his opinion, the prevalence and extent of internet proliferation cannot be undermined in one’s life,” said a three-judge Bench headed by Justice NV Ramana, which declared access to Internet a constitutionally protected right.
“We need to distinguish between the internet as a tool and the freedom of expression through the internet,” it emphasized.
“Law and technology seldom mix like oil and water. There is a consistent criticism that the development of technology is not met by equivalent movement in the law. In this context, we need to note that the law should imbibe the technological development and accordingly mould its rules so as to cater to the needs of society.
