[Public Opinion Brief No. 72] 76% of 26 Countries: Internet Access is a Basic Human Right

Jointly conducted by BBC, Globescan, Maeil Business Newspaper, and East Asia Institute

79% of 27,973 people in 26 countries: "Internet access is a basic human right"

96% in Korea agree, meeting the expectations of citizens in developed countries

Eight out of ten global citizens understand the internet not merely as a tool that provides convenience, but as one of the fundamental rights that humans should enjoy, akin to the right to food and shelter. Even among respondents who do not use the internet, seven out of ten (71%) believe that the right to internet access should be guaranteed as a basic right. This is according to a global survey of 27,973 people in 26 countries conducted by BBC World Service, Maeil Business Newspaper, and East Asia Institute.

[Figure 1] Internet Penetration Rate by Country and Percentage of Recognition of Internet Access as a Basic Right

* Internet penetration rate (subscriber numbers as a percentage of population) Source: Internet World Stat (September 30, 2009)

Note) While a bar graph would be more accurate for representing the two variables for each country, as the variable on the X-axis is a nominal variable representing countries, a linear graph was used for visual effect, as a bar graph for two variables per country would make the graph too complex.

In Kenya (33%), Pakistan (46%), and India (61%), the percentage of agreement that internet access should be recognized as a basic right was below 60%. However, in the remaining 23 countries, over 70% agreed. Korea, which ranks second after Australia in internet penetration rate among the 55 countries provided by Internet World Stat, showed the highest level of consensus at a remarkable 96%, with respondents believing that internet access should be recognized as a basic right that humans should minimally enjoy. Countries like Australia and Korea, which vie for the top two spots in global internet penetration, as well as developed nations such as the United States, Japan, Canada, France, and Germany, are meeting the expectations of their citizens by boasting high internet penetration rates.

[Table 1] Internet Penetration Rate and Recognition of Internet as a Basic Right (%)

* Internet penetration rate (subscriber numbers as a percentage of population) Source: Internet World Stat (September 30, 2009)

BRICS, Asian, and African Developing Countries: "Significant Gap Between Expectations and Reality Regarding Internet Access Guarantees"

Korea Should Increase the Proportion of IT Aid

BRICS countries such as Brazil, China, and Russia, which are emerging as major economies, showed a large gap between expectations and reality. While the perception of internet access as a basic right was similar to that of citizens in developed countries, with 91% in Brazil, 87% in China, and 70% in Russia agreeing, actual penetration rates were 34% in Brazil, 27% in China, and 32% in Russia. In India, which has emerged as a global IT powerhouse, the public's perception of the internet as a basic right was lower than in other countries at 61%, and the actual internet penetration rate was the second lowest among surveyed countries at 7%, following Ghana. Although these countries pose a threat to developed economies in terms of economic scale and growth, there is a significant difference in individual access compared to developed nations.

The situation is worse in developing and poor countries in Africa and Asia. While 85% of Nigerians and 74% of Ghanaians understood internet access as a basic right, actual penetration rates were only 7% and 4%, respectively. Although 91% of Thais, 73% of Filipinos, and 65% of Indonesians expressed high expectations for internet access rights, actual penetration rates were only 24% in Thailand, 25% in the Philippines, and 13% in Indonesia.

These survey results have significant implications for the establishment of South Korea's foreign aid strategy, particularly as Korea has ascended to donor status early this year, enhancing its national standing and leadership in the international community. Considering Korea's economic situation, with limited financial capacity, it is time to explore ways to increase the proportion of IT aid, leveraging its globally recognized high IT infrastructure and technological capabilities.

Global Internet Users' View of the Internet World

Global Internet Users: "I Cannot Live Without the Internet" - 44%

84% of Japanese citizens, 81% of Mexicans, 71% of Russians, 63% of Chinese, and 57% of Koreans, ranking 5th

Among the 14,306 internet users who had used the internet in the past six months, their thoughts on the internet space were surveyed. Firstly, 44% of global netizens responded, "I cannot live without the internet," indicating a considerable level of dependence on the internet. Korea ranked fifth among the surveyed countries, with 57% of Korean internet users falling into this category of "addicted users." Japan had the highest percentage at 84%, followed by Mexico at 81%, Russia at 71%, and China at 63%. Excluding these six countries, including Egypt with 55%, the number of "addicted users" in most countries was below half. Most developed countries, such as France (42%), the United Kingdom (40%), Australia (38%), the United States (36%), and Canada (35%), remained within the 35-42% range. In countries with lower internet penetration rates, such as Pakistan (19%), the Philippines (21%), Turkey (27%), Brazil (29%), and Indonesia (32%), the proportion of "addicted users" was relatively low.

[Figure 1] Percentage Responding "I Cannot Live Without the Internet": Among Internet Users (%)

The Greatest Utility and Biggest Concerns of the Internet According to Global Netizens

Utility: Information Search > Communication

Netizens appear to find the greatest utility of the internet in its information search capabilities. 47% of respondents cited information search as the top priority. Social communication with others was also considered a major utility by 32% of respondents. However, only 12% prioritized entertainment such as music and movies, 5% prioritized obtaining information for consumption/purchases, and a mere 3% cited content creation and sharing, represented by Web 2.0 activities, for expressing individuality. This suggests that Web 2.0 activities are currently the primary domain of power users rather than general netizens. While Korean respondents showed a similar pattern, the proportion citing information search capabilities was overwhelmingly high. A remarkable 72% of respondents identified information search as the internet's greatest utility, followed by communication at 13%, entertainment at 5%, obtaining consumption/purchase information at 6%, and content creation and sharing activities at 3%.

[Figure 2] Greatest Utility of the Internet

Meanwhile, regarding the biggest concerns when using the internet, 32% of global netizens cited internet fraud as the primary concern, followed by violent and explicit content at 27%. Privacy invasion was around 20%, and content censorship was cited by 6%. Concerns about the increased influence of corporations accounted for only 3%. Korean netizens, unlike those in other countries, expressed the greatest concern about privacy invasion, with a significant 41% indicating worry about privacy issues while using the internet. Concerns about violent/obscene content were cited by 22%, and internet fraud by 20%. Government censorship was mentioned by 11%, and the increased influence of corporations by 3%.

[Figure 3] Biggest Concerns When Using the Internet

The changes brought about by the internet space are being positively evaluated by netizens. An average of 90% of global respondents agreed with the statement that the internet is a good place to learn new things. Furthermore, 78% agreed with the assertion that the internet provides them with more freedom. Globally, an average of 55% of respondents reported enjoying social networking activities through the internet. Korean citizens also generally show a similar pattern to global public opinion regarding these factors. 94% agreed with the internet's function for learning new things, and 74% responded positively to the assertion that it provides them with more freedom. Nearly half (49%) of respondents reported enjoying social networking sites such as Cyworld and various blogs, although this proportion was not as high compared to other factors.

Regarding government regulation of the internet, which has become a prominent issue following the recent Google incident in China, global netizens' opinions lean slightly towards opposing government regulation. 53% agreed with the statement that they completely oppose government regulation of internet content. Korea showed the strongest resistance to government regulation, with 83% of respondents opposing government regulation of internet content.

Furthermore, when asked whether the internet space is safe enough for free communication among individuals, 48% of global netizens answered affirmatively, while only 30% in Korea agreed. 70% expressed anxiety about communication in the internet space. This result indicates that Korean netizens do not perceive the internet space as having matured into a public forum.

[Figure 4] Various Evaluations of the Internet (%)