Nearly four out of five people think having access to the internet is a basic human right, according to a BBC World Service survey of 27,000 people.
The poll, which was conducted across 26 countries, also shed light on people’s views with regard to state regulation of the internet.
More than half of the people asked in the UK said some government regulation of the internet could be justified. Most people questioned in South Korea however said the state should never be involved.
According to the BBC report, access to the internet is already classed as a human right for people living in Finland and Estonia.
Overall, 87 per cent of people polled said access to the internet is a “fundamental right of all people”, while over 70 per cent of those questioned who weren’t connected to the net felt they should be.