In some parts of the world, an internet connection is not guaranteed. Access depends on policies, costs, or government control.
While some enjoy free and open internet, others face censorship, surveillance, or complete shutdowns. Governments and corporations control access, raising a vital question: Should internet access be a universal right?
From Privilege to Necessity
The internet has transformed from a luxury to an essential part of everyday life. Once just a tool for email and entertainment, it’s now as important as electricity or clean water. By 2024, over 5.35 billion people—66% of the global population— used the internet regularly. It’s become a lifeline for accessing jobs, healthcare, banking, education, and entertainment, among other things.
These days, so many services expect you to be online. Whether it’s applying for a job, booking a medical appointment, or managing your bank account, having internet access is often a must. In some places, even things like ID verification, voter registration, and accessing social welfare are entirely digital. Without a stable connection, it’s easy to be left behind.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated these changes. Working from home, online classes, and virtual doctor visits became the norm—and they’re still widely used today. Now, over 30% of knowledge workers work remotely. e-learning helps millions of students, and video calls are a common way to see a doctor.
But not everyone has access. Many families can’t afford reliable internet or live in places without the proper infrastructure. Rural areas, low-income communities, and regions impacted by conflict face the most significant challenges.
Around 2.7 billion people worldwide are still offline, preventing them from accessing education, jobs, and vital services. Ensuring everyone has access isn’t just a technical issue; it’s about fairness and responsibility.
Why Connectivity Is a Modern Right
Access to the internet is essential for freedoms like speech, expression, and association. Open access allows people to share opinions and join virtual protests.
In 2024, global internet shutdowns reached a record high, with 296 disruptions across 54 countries. India reported 84 shutdowns, while Myanmar had 85. Governments often cut internet access during protests, elections, or unrest to silence dissenting voices.
Iran’s blackouts disrupted connectivity by 97% in June 2025, blocking news and support during the conflict. After a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in March 2025, Myanmar’s military extended internet shutdowns, hindering vital aid efforts.
In 2016, the UN Human Rights Council condemned these disruptions, affirming that offline rights must extend online. By 2023, the UN General Assembly officially recognised digital access as vital to human rights.
When governments shut down the internet, they suppress freedom, not just data. Without connectivity, free speech is silenced.
Making Access Fair
The internet is central to civic life, yet millions remain excluded from banking, education, healthcare, and democracy. Bridging this gap requires more than laying fibre. It means addressing structural inequalities, navigating political barriers, and empowering users.
Countering State Control and Surveillance
Governments frequently employ internet shutdowns and algorithmic filtering to stifle dissent and control discourse. In these cases, circumvention tools become lifelines. A VPN service for free internet helps users bypass restrictions, access censored platforms, and protect encrypted communications. VPNs also shield metadata like browsing habits, contacts, and locations—vital in surveillance-heavy settings.
However, VPNs alone are not enough. Users must understand how to avoid DNS leaks and use obfuscation protocols in areas with VPN bans or deep packet inspection (DPI). Technical literacy is critical in these high-risk situations.
Reimagining Infrastructure Beyond Commercial ISPs
Commercial providers rarely invest in low-return areas like rural zones, indigenous communities, or refugee camps. Decentralised infrastructure projects offer alternatives. Community-owned fibre co-ops and solar-powered LTE mesh networks are emerging across the Pacific and Latin America.
In Aotearoa, New Zealand, for example, sovereignty-based network models are being developed. These combine local governance with open-source management, ensuring cultural sensitivity and long-term resilience. Integrated with local IT education and employment opportunities, these models resist centralised control and strengthen communities.
Prioritising Public Access Post-Pandemic
Public Wi-Fi is often seen as optional, not essential. Yet, as transport, health records, schooling, and job applications move online, access must become fundamental infrastructure.
Cities can deploy secure Wi-Fi zones using federated authentication, which allows seamless transitions between hotspots while protecting data and complying with privacy laws. Parts of Europe already use this model.
Moving from Digital Literacy to Autonomy
Training programs typically teach basic internet use but fail to promote autonomy. People need to understand how platforms manipulate them, how data moves between services, and how to make informed decisions.
Digital inclusion efforts should focus on:
- Consent-based data practices.
- Decentralised tools like self-hosted clouds or federated platforms.
- Open data and civic tech initiatives.
Empowering users to actively shape their online experience closes the gap between access and agency.
Connection Is Power—But Only If It’s Shared
Internet access determines who gets heard, learns, earns, and participates. When governments censor or providers exclude, people are disconnected and disenfranchised. Open, affordable, and secure internet access is a civil right, not just a technical issue.
Treating connectivity as a privilege deepens global inequalities. The internet should empower, not mirror existing divides. Everyone deserves the chance to be connected.