Scientific Journal of Law and Modern Studies

Scientific Journal of Law and Modern Studies

The Right to Equal Access to Technology: The Forgotten Dimension of Human Rights in the Digital Age

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
1 Visiting Professor, Faculty of Management, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2 ² Associate Professor, Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
The rapid advancement of technology in the twenty-first century—from artificial intelligence and big data to the Internet of Things and biotechnology—has profoundly transformed the social, economic, and cultural structures of human life. Amid these transformations, the right to equal access to technology has emerged as a fundamental component of social justice and a new generation of human rights. Although classical human rights instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) do not explicitly mention this right, their underlying principles—equality, dignity, and the right to development—provide a conceptual foundation for its recognition in the digital age.
This article, based on international documents and normative analysis, examines the conceptual and legal foundations of this right and identifies it as a “forgotten dimension” of human rights in the digital era. The findings reveal that without guaranteeing equal access to technology, the realization of other essential human rights—such as education, political participation, employment, and social justice—remains unattainable. Therefore, the formal recognition of this right at both national and international levels is an indispensable step toward achieving technological justice and safeguarding human dignity in the digital society.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 27 November 2025

  • Receive Date 10 October 2025
  • Accept Date 09 November 2025