International Relations Researches

International Relations Researches

Analysis of the Concept of "The Right to Cyber Life" and Its Relation to Human Rights

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Professor, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
2 PhD student of Public Law, Department of Public and International Law, Faculty of Law, Theology and Political Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Unit, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
As technology continues to advance in the realm of information and communication, human perception of space has transcended the boundaries of physicality. In parallel with the physical world, characterized by its tangible facts and realities, a new space has emerged—one composed of informational data. This virtual realm, governed by the ever-expanding realm of human needs, defies the limitations imposed by physical space. In response to the populace's increasing presence and engagement within this digital arena, governments have articulated a set of rights and responsibilities for its utilization. Nevertheless, a critical dimension of this discourse is the evolution of what can be described as a "cyber life." As virtual communities, virtual citizens, virtual interactions, virtual identities, and virtual security become integral facets of this digital realm, a fundamental question arises: Are individuals gradually giving rise to a form of existence characterized by their engagement in this new cyber life? Consequently, this article explores the question of what defines the "right to cyber life" and how such a right can be classified within the domain of human rights. Employing a descriptive-analytical and explanatory methodology, the findings of this article firmly establish the "right to cyber life" as a fourth-generation human right. This recognition is rooted in the way it has impacted the lives of individuals, shaping opportunities, presenting challenges, and posing potential threats within the realm of public policy.
Keywords

Abbasi, B (2016). Human rights and fundamental freedoms (three generations of human rights in Islam, Iran and international and regional documents), second edition, Tehran: Dadgstar Publications. ]In Persian[
Aghah, H (2003). Quran; The right to life, and existing challenges, In: Quranic researches, numbers 35 and 36, special issue of Quran and rights. ]In Persian[
Almog, S (2002). From Sterne and Borges to Lost Storytellers: Cyberspace, Narrative, and Law, In: Fordham Intellectual Property, Media & Entertainment Law Journal, Vol.13, No.1 (2002): 1-34.
Ansari, B and Attar, S; Salehi, A (2023). Data Rights and Artificial Intelligence - Concepts and Challenges, Second Edition, Tehran: Sahami Enteshar. ]In Persian[
Ansari, B (2021). The right to access the Internet; Basics and Content, In: Legal Journal, Volume 84, Number 112, Winter 2019, pp. 51-79. ]In Persian[
Arkadas-Thibert, A (2022). The Right to Preservation of Identity, In: Monitoring State Compliance with the UK Convention on the Rights of the Child, edited by Z. Vaghri et al, 59-64. Switzerland: Springer.
Australian Human Rights Commission (2013), background paper: Human rights in cyberspace, September 2013. pp.1-40.
Babazadeh M.H (2020). An introduction to the fourth generation of human rights; Supporting Human Dignity in the Age of Communication, In: News Science Quarterly, Year 9, Number 34, Summer 2020, pp. 212-195. ]In Persian[
Basu, S and Jones, R (2007). Regulating Cyberstalking, Journal of information, In: Law and Technology, JILT 2007 (2), <http://go.warwick.ac.uk/jilt/2007_2/basu_jones/>
Castells, E (2006). Information age, the emergence of networked society, translation: Ahad Aliqlian and Afshin Khakbaz, first volume, Tehran: Tarh e No Publications. ]In Persian[
Cornescu, A.V (2009). The Generations of human’s Rights, Days of Law: The Conference Proceedings, 1. edition. Brno: Masaryk University, p.1-11.
Dodge, M and kitchen, R (2001). Mapping Cyberspace, Rutledge publication.
Fidler, D.P (2021). Research Handbook on International Law and Cyberspace, Edited by: Nicholas Tsagourias and Russell Buchan, Article: Cyberspace and Human rights, Publishing by Edward Elgar.
Grande Branger, L.A (2023). Mediated Identities, How Facebook intervenes in the Virtual Manifestation of Our Identities. In: Virtual Identities and Digital Culture, eds by Victoria Kannen and Aaron Langille, 38-47. Newyork: Routledge.
Gregory, D and et al (2009). Dictionary of human geography, Wiely-blackwell publication.
Hamelink, C.J (1999). Human Rights in Cyberspace, in: Cyberidentities Canadian& Europen presence in cyberspace, edited by Leen D’Haenes and et. al, Publishing by University of Ottawa.
Helmans, S.M (2007). The fourth category of human rights, translators: Hasan Kashfi Ismailzadeh and Mohammad Hossein Ramezani Qawamabadi, Public Law Quarterly, No. 2, March 2007, pp. 41-37. ]In Persian[
Human Rights Committee (2011). International Covenant on Civil and political Rights, 102nd session, General comment No.34. Geneva: 11-29 july p.1-13.
Karimi Pashaki, S and Bordbar Tahergorabi, M (2019). An introduction to the geography of cyber space, Tehran: National Defense University Publications. ]In Persian[
Karimi Pashaki, S and Monem, R; Kazemipour, A (2016). Analysis of the components of the doctrine of cyber countries (Case Study: Islamic Republic of Iran), International Relations Researches Journal, Volume 5, Issue 15, January 2016, pp.193-220. ]In Persian[
Karimi Pashaki, S and Pishgahifard, Z (2015). Geographic perspective in the analysis of cyberspace functionality, In: Geographical Space Quarterly, No. 4, 47 series, pp. 233-256. ]In Persian[
Khosravi, A (2010). Conceptualization of virtual identity in cyber space, Rahavard Noor magazine, No. 32. pp.6-11. ]In Persian[
Kittichaisaree, K (2017). Public International law of Cyberspace, Springer International Publishing Switzerland.
Kleinwachter, W (2022). Do we need a new Generation of Human Rights for cyberspace?, In: Observer Research Foundation. OCT 26 2022, https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/do-we-need-a-new-generation-of-human-rights-for-cyberspace
Krawczyk-Wasilewska, V (2012). Matchmaking through avatars: Social aspects of online dating. In: Shaping Virtual Lives Online Identities, Representationsm and Conducts, edited by Violetta Krawczyk-Wasilewska, Theo Meder, and Andy Ross, 89-100. Łódz: University of Łódz.
La Rue, F (2001). Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, In: Human Rights Council, A/HRC/17/27. 1-22, United Nations.
Lonergan, E.D and Lonergan, S.W (2023). Escalation dynamics in cyberspace, New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Louren, P.G (2013) The Evolution of International Human Rights: Visions Seen, Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania Press.
Maslen, S.C (2021). The Right to Life Under Intenational Law- An Interpretative Manual, Cambridge: Cambridge University.
Mccombs, T and Gonzalez JS (2007). Right to Identity, International Human Rights Law Clinic, University of California, Berkeley School of Law (November 2007).
Mengin, F (2004). New information Technologies and the Reshaping of Power Relations: An Approach to Greater China’s Political Economy”, in: Cyber China- Reshaping National Identities in the Age of Information, edited by Francoise Mengin, 1-16. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Mireasmaili, B.S and Maliki F.S (2013). review of UNESCO documents related to information society (wsis) and freedom of information, Media studies, 8th year, number 23, winter 2013, pp. 1-14.
Nourani, M (2006). Digital divide”, In: World Media Journal, No. 2. ]In Persian[
Qari Seyed Fatemi, S.M (2000). Haq Hayat, Legal Research Journal, Nos. 31 and 32, pp. 150-166. ]In Persian[
Rajaei, F (2003). Globalization Phenomenon - Human Condition and Information Civilization, translated by Abdul Hossein Azarang, second edition, Tehran: Aghat Publications. ]In Persian[
Risse, M (2021). The Fourth Generation of Human Rights: Epistemic Rights in Digital lifeworlds,In: Moral Philosophy and Politics. 8(2). pp.351-378.
Roth, M.T (1997). Law Collections from Mesopotamia and Asia Minor, 2nd Edition, Atlanta: Scholar Press.
Sabbaghian, A (2011). Identity in cyber space, In: CyberSpace- The Ethical, Legal and Societal Implications of Cyberspace, edite: Yunus Shokrkhah, Tehran: Tehran University Publications. ]In Persian[
Simbar, R and Karimi Pashaki S; Ghasemian A (2015). An Introduction to Cyber Terrorism and Digital Security, Gilan: Gilan University Press. ]In Persian[
Sparks, L (2009). Internet Access is a fundamental human rights, rules Franch court, Daily Mail,11 Jun 2009 , 22:53 EST, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1192359/Internet-access-fundamental-human-right-rules-French-court.html
Taherikia, H (2022). Naked life in digital geography, Tehran: Publications of the Institute of Cultural and Social Studies.] In Persian[
Tegmark, M (2017). Life 3.0 Being human in the age of Artificial Intelligence, Publishing by Alfred A. knopf.
Tobin, J and Todres J (2019). The right to preservation of a child’s identity.” In: The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: A commentary, edited by J. Tobin, 281–306. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Warf, B (2006). Encyclopedia of Human geography, Sage publication.
Weston, B.H (2016). human Rights: Conept and Content”, In: Human Rights in the World Community Issies and Action, 4th Edition, edited by Richard Pierre Claude and Burns H. Weston. Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania. pp.7-14.
Yaraghi Esfahani, M (2022). examining the possibility of recognizing the right to access the Internet as a human right”, Scientific Quarterly of International Law Research, 14th volume, number 54, winter 2022, pp. 74-59. ]In Persian[