"The Internet is Not a Human Right"

According to one of the inventors of the Internet, "Internet access is not a human right."

While it can be argued that someone in the 21st century could survive without the Internet, would they live as well as their Internet-surfing peers? 

Would someone be a hypocrite if they claimed that literacy is a human right, or freedom to access information is a human right, but stated that Internet access is not a human right?

Even Amish children who might not have electricity at home due to the religious beliefs of their community often go to public libraries where, with parental permission, they may use computers with Internet access.

The leaders of North Korea keep their people from having Internet access, in order to maintain their authority. 

The leaders of China continually try to censor and block what the Chinese can view over the Internet, but they see the value of all people having Internet access for commerce, education, and communication. 

Wireless Internet access in developing countries has the potential to make education more affordable and readily available for poor people in remote areas.  Internet access also makes it much easier for these same people to acquire free or low-cost EBooks, as well as free or low-cost means of communication or trade. 

If everyone had Internet access, would it level the playing field in some areas of human existence?  Is it possible that, in every case, those living without Internet access are at a disadvantage economically and educationally?