Internet access as a fundamental human right for the full exercise of citizenship in the digital age

Abstract

This article examines internet access as a fundamental right indispensable to the exercise of citizenship in the digital age. Starting from the observation that a large part of social, economic, educational, and political activities have migrated to the virtual environment, it investigates to what extent connectivity has become a material condition for the enjoyment of civil, political, and social rights. The research adopts a hypothetical-deductive methodology, with a qualitative approach, based on documentary, normative, and bibliographic analysis, in light of theoretical frameworks from the information society, cyberculture, human rights, and constitutional theory. The results demonstrate that digital exclusion is not merely a technical deficiency, but a contemporary form of structural inequality that restricts access to public policies, limits opportunities, and compromises the effectiveness of citizenship. In this sense, internet access reveals itself as a "right to have rights," articulated with the constitutional principles of human dignity, equality, and the construction of a free, just, and supportive society. It is argued that the State has a legal duty to promote public policies for universal access, accompanied by digital literacy, critical training, and democratic regulation of the informational environment, in order to address vulnerabilities and guarantee substantial inclusion. It is concluded that recognizing connectivity as a human right is essential for consolidating digital citizenship and reducing inequalities, although the topic still requires further in-depth study, especially regarding the normative delimitation of this right and the empirical evaluation of digital inclusion policies.