Keep the Internet strong for human rights! Designed as an open, decentralized network that empowers users at a grassroots level, there is no denying the Internet has transformed our world to become an essential platform for human rights. YEAR 2000 Just 5,8% of the worlds population had access to the Internet. YEAR 2013 The Internet is accessible to 34,3% of the worlds population Since 2000, Internet use per person in developing economies has grown 28% a year. Access to the Internet, however, is only meaningful if it actually empowers people to: - Have better access to health and education. - Know, defend and exercise their rights. - Freely express their ideas. - Be creative and innovate. - Find new business opportunities. - And much more! As a matter of fact, the United Nations listed Internet penetration as a key metric in efforts to reduce poverty in their Millennium Development goals! So, how excactly can the open Internet benefit: ECONOMY: The Internet created 2.6 jobs for each job that might have been lost to technology development. In Africa, the contribution of the Internet to GDP could account for as much as 300 billion if it achieves the same kind of impact and scale as the spread of mobile phones. EDUCATION: The technology-related productivity gains in education could reach $30 billion to almost $70 billion. Access to free and high quality digital content may revolutionise education, specially in places that currently lack sufficient knowledge sources. HEALTH: In Africa alone, technology-related benefits in health care - such as remote diagnosis and treatment - could range from $84 billion to $188 billion by 2025. All of that is only possible if we keep the Internet open and collaborative! The virtuous circle of an open internet: Technology (Open standards) -> Economy (Open markets) -> Society (Open communications) -> Governance (Open institutions) http://internetsociety.org/virtuouscircle An open and free Internet is what enables all of us to seek, receive, and share information and ideas in ways that were not possible before. This is at the heart of how it was conceived and the main reason why it is changing the world. Let's keep it that way! The Internet Society is strongly committed to an open, global and decentralized Internet, as a platform for human progress. Join us and help us keep the Internet strong! Share this infographic with your friends and followers using hashtag #INTERNETSTRONG SOURCES: The World Bank - Internet users (per 100 people) http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.USER.P2/countries/1W?display=map Internet World Stats http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm The Web Index http://thewebindex.org The World Bank - World Development Indicators 2013 http://www.uis.unesco.org/Library/Documents/world-development-indicators-education-2013-en.pdf The United Nations - The Millenium Development Goals http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals McKinsey - Lions go digital: The Internet’s transformative potential in Africa http://www.mckinsey.com/insights/high_tech_telecoms_internet/lions_go_digital_the_internets_transformative_potential_in_africa McKinsey - Internet matters: The Net's sweeping impact on growth, jobs, and prosperity http://www.mckinsey.com/insights/high_tech_telecoms_internet/internet_matters The Internet Society http://www.internetsociety.org/virtuouscircle