Internet Access as a Fundamental Right: an Overview of the Italian Debate

Abstract The right of access to the Internet is closely linked to the concept of digital citizenship and to the controversial issue of the constitutionalization of the right. The paper describes the issue and national and international initiatives. The connotation of the right of access to the Internet remains, for the moment, in the hands of the individual States, and the case of Italy is indicative of the obstacles and barriers still to be removed for free access to the Internet.