Net is 'less free and more unequal', says web founder

Richer countries rank highest for net access, freedom and openness

he web is becoming less free and more unequal, according to a report from the World Wide Web Foundation.

Its annual web index suggests web users are at increasing risk of government surveillance, with laws preventing mass snooping weak or non-existent in over 84% of countries.

It also indicates that online censorship is on the rise.

The report led web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee to call for net access to be recognised as a human right.

The World Wide Web Foundation, led by Sir Tim, measured the web's contribution to the social, economic and political progress of 86 countries.

Other headline findings from the report include:

• 74% of countries either lack clear and effective net neutrality rules and/or show evidence of traffic discrimination

• 62% of countries report that the web plays a major role in sparking social or political action

• 74% of countries are not doing enough to stop online harassment of women

The index ranked countries around the world in terms of:

• universal access
• relevant content and use
• freedom and openness
• empowerment

Four of the top five were Scandinavian, with Denmark in first place, Finland second and Norway third. The UK came fourth, followed by Sweden.

"The richer and better educated people are, the more benefit they are gaining from the digital revolution," said Anne Jellema, chief executive of the World Wide Web Foundation, and the lead author of the report.

"Extreme disparities between rich and poor have been rightly identified as the defining challenge of our age, and we need to use technology to fight inequality, not increase it."

One of the best starting points would be to put net access at the top of the agenda, she added.

Sir Tim said: "It's time to recognise the internet as a basic human right.

"That means guaranteeing affordable access for all, ensuring internet packets are delivered without commercial or political discrimination, and protecting the privacy and freedom of web users regardless of where they live."

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-30432487