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EUROPE’S TOP HUMAN rights court has ruled that an Estonian prisoner who was prevented from using certain websites had his human rights breached.
His complaint related to three websites, two run by Estonian authorities and the other by the Council of Europe.
Specifically, Romeo Kalda – who is serving a life sentence in prison – had been hoping to use the websites to research legal acts and Estonian language versions of European Court judgements.
So is the internet a human right then?
Not exactly.
Under article 10 of the European Declaration of Human Rights, individuals are afforded freedom of expression; this includes the right to receive information via the internet.
However, countries in the EU are not automatically bound by this clause to give prisoners access to the internet.
But if they choose to do so – as Estonia does – valid reasons need to be given for restricting certain sites.
The Estonian government contended that barring Kalda from websites he was trying to access was justified as his accessing them would present an economic and security risk.
And what did the court say?
Fighting this case since 2007, Kalda saw it shot down at every level of the court system in his own country.
In its ruling, the European Court of Human Rights found that there hadn’t been a “detailed analysis” on the possible security risks presented by Kalda accessing the websites.
It acknowledged that although restricted, Estonian prisoners do have access to the internet.
Taking all of this into account, it ruled that the Estonian authorities had not convinced the court that there had been a good enough reason to breach Kalda’s “right to receive information”.
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That is the nature of insurance sure
As opposed to the insurance against nature.
These guys sicken me the way they insist on guaranteeing margins for themselves. Imagine a bike rental guy in the Aran Islands insisting on charging all tourists €50 per hour because ‘last year was a rainy summer’. FBD tried to hike mine but I went to Chill. The industry have the public over a barrel with the compulsory nature of their product. Its analogous to me placing a bet with a bookie, losing, and then robbing the place at gunpoint to get my money back. Yet governments around the world are afraid to stop them. Banks have the same ‘risk is not for us to suffer’ attitude.
That is all to do with Governments obsession with Corpocracy – the interest of the consumer always plays seconds fiddle to Corporations – why could shareholders not be told there had been a bad winter and dividend increases are being withheld for once – rather than effectively steal the losses
back off consumers.
They already hiked renewal premiums on my car and home insurance and that is why I’m no longer an FBD customer.
You’re right Jayo….it’s on the consumer’s interest to play insurance companies off one and other….I got my renewal from FBD a few weeks ago, checked around for another quote elsewhere, which in almost ever instance was coming in quite a bit cheaper….rang them back and told them that I didn’t want to move but because it was cheaper with someone else, that I had no other option…..they end up matching the other quotes!! Happy days!!
Pretty sure it’s FBD not FDB as it’s spelled in your headline……
Thanks Craig, that’s fixed now.
No… still FDB. ….
Thanks Brian, it might take a minute to update on all browsers.
They lost €20 million but still made €5.6 million. So how much have they made in the last. 5 years…..?
A lot…..and yet the greedy feckers will still want an increase.
What’s more….they will be allowed.
DISGUSTING!!!!!!!!!!
5.6 million is not a huge profit for a company that size.
Gangsters…
Sure just ask the government to set up a usc2 to help you out I’m sure they’ll oblige
No Nonsense.ie becomes FU.ie
have your say