A/66/290
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and
protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
Summary
The present report is submitted to the General Assembly by the Special
Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and
expression, pursuant to Human Rights Council resolutions 7/36 and 16/4. The report
expands upon the last report submitted to the Council by the Special Rapporteur on
key trends and challenges to the right of all individuals to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas of all kinds through the Internet (A/HRC/17/27), and addresses
the issue through two equally important dimensions of Internet access: access to
online content (sect. III), and access to Internet connection (sect. IV). In section III,
the Special Rapporteur outlines the types of expression that States are exceptionally
required to prohibit under international law (III.A) and also discusses impermissible
restrictions (III.B), given the ongoing debate regarding regulation of content on the
Internet. The report also addresses the importance of digital literacy and training in
information and communications technology skills for individuals to enable them to
access online content in an effective and meaningful manner. While access to
Internet connection is not yet recognized as a human right, the report focuses on the
positive obligation of States to facilitate the enjoyment of the right to freedom of
expression via the Internet, and outlines both challenges and positive initiatives to
make the Internet available, accessible and affordable to all segments of society
(sect. IV). The report concludes with recommendations to ensure full access to online
content that is free of censorship and access to Internet connection, particularly for
marginalized and disadvantaged groups.
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