In previous posts we have talked about telecommunications, studying its impact on society and the new opportunities provided to the new generations as well as the urgent need of the various governments to close the gap of access to information between different types of socio-economic sectors.
This leads us to the basic mean of the telecommunications access. Information.
Capable of being used to find out news, learn from new science, discuss ideas or simply organize a football match, the transport of information is vital in any society in the world. While centuries ago, access to a book was only available to upper classes of society, today millions of publications, ideas or opinions are easily accessible through the network.
This fluid exchange of ideas leads to greater understanding and a better diversity among the citizens thereof, favoring the basic ideas of republicanism. Equality between citizens is achieved only when we differ only by our virtues, and governments should give the same equal opportunity to excel in them.
But it is also important that this access to information is not restricted. The press has been called “the fourth estate” as through the issuance of certain information can significantly change the perception of the citizen, changing his opinion. This can be much stronger than any other state power and benefit some private groups to promote their interests; something that has happened over time because the creation of a media outlet requires substantial investment and ongoing costs and, of course, government authorization.
However, the Internet gives us another tool other than those set, which clearly revolutionizes the operation of the fourth estate. As there is no clear guideline that can be written or not in the network, with globally distributed servers avoiding only one government controls and lower costs for beginners, different opinions can be expressed and all points of view reflected.
Only through freedom of information, citizens will be able to receive, reflect and conclude their ideas, without need to receive a pre-established path of what or how to think.
Although various philosophical positions are still discussing its true meaning, “truth” is something sought by every human being and understand that to achieve it, you need access to any means of information as possible.
“Veritas vos liberabit” or “the truth shall set you free” in English, is a latin phrase showing how valuable is truth and to be capable of accessing the information that leads us towards it. Something that many governments know, and therefore prevent their citizens, from reaching it.
Internet access is the most democratic and simple source to access information and, because of that, is able to liberate any citizen from constant attempts to guide his attention to particular points.
In this century, we should begin to see it as a FUNDAMENTAL right.
