Of paramount importance here is that the Finnish government did not merely raise broadband Internet access as a policy goal, but instead designated it "a citizens' right." Even among fundamental human rights such as the right to existence, the right to freedom, and the right to own property -- considered "natural rights," social rights guaranteed by the state to spare its citizens of deficiencies or suppression, including the right to life, the right to an education, basic labor rights, and the right to work are a relatively new notion within the realm of human rights. Because of when they emerged, they are sometimes called 20th century rights.
The Industrial Revolution, which was a large-scale innovation in the energy field, undoubtedly had a role in the birth of social rights. Essentially, new technologies spawn new human rights. Based on this line of thinking, it was innovations in the information & communications field and the resulting changes in social structure that gave rise to Finland's "Internet access right."
Prior to the Industrial Revolution, poverty was regarded a matter of personal responsibility. But in a developed industrial society, what is highly sought are large numbers of educated laborers. A large intermediate class also becomes necessary, both to supply the talent capable of doing innovative work, and as consumers. In other words, when the state protects the lives of its citizens, it ultimately serves to cultivate the national strength necessary to support an industrial society. Social rights make sense not only from a humanitarian perspective, but from a utilitarian one as well.
This is why many social rights are paired with responsibilities. As such, the responsibilities that come with Finland's new Internet access right are a crucial part of the deal. The Finnish government is already functioning to a significant extent as an electronic government. The reason for this development was -- like Japan -- Finland's rapidly aging population, which leaves no spare hands to dedicate to inefficient social processes.
Japan, which finds itself in a similar predicament as Finland with regards to its aging population and shrinking labor supply, is dragging its feet on the Basic Resident Registers Network (Juki Net), and the e-government here still remains a blueprint on someone's desk. In the meantime, Finland has not only set up a system of ID numbers for all its citizens, it has succeeded in centralizing personal information in its resident register. Within two hours of coming into this world, newborns are registered and given an ID number, and child welfare benefits are provided based on this information.
Furthermore, an ombudsman system is in place to protect personal information in the register from being used inappropriately, and information is offered to public agencies and corporations for a fee. Summarizing the status of people is a mere matter of scanning the database. No nationwide census has taken place since 1980.
In the same spirit, electronic filing of official information, such as tax, is also now possible using encryption communication technology (which, by the way, is Japanese) using an IC card. This can be done using mobile phones, too. However, while registering a change of address is simple enough to do electronically, for the more onerous procedure of filing taxes, many Finns still prefer to ask relevant public servants to help in person. Electronic tax filing in Finland is only several percent of the total and has yet to catch on, as in Japan.
I have heard that the Finnish tax filing system is much more user-friendly than the Japanese, so the blocking factor for the expansion of the tax filing system in Finland thus far seems to be the nature of human beings to stick to habit -- regardless of whether the new unfamiliar method is good -- when contemplating an action that could end in a loss if one makes a mistake.
If people's emotional hang ups with the past are what's stopping the development of a society adapted to the network age, particularly in a situation where the nation's future is at risk financially and otherwise, it is necessary to establish a rule that "public services are to be offered via electronic networks in principle."
Then the element of responsibility of the right to fast Internet access becomes clear. In order to engage in the democratic process and contribute to society, receiving an education is both a right and a responsibility of parents to fulfill on behalf of their children. Likewise, in order to build a nation that will thrive despite few natural resources, harsh environmental conditions, and -- to top it off -- a rapidly aging population, streamlining social process and improving efficiency is key. Citizens' electronic participation in society must be considered both a right and a responsibility.
Furthermore, just like compulsory education is not entirely free, we will be asked to shoulder a fair share of the burden. Those who for one reason or another cannot take on their share will resort to their "right" to seek help from the government. A welfare scheme that has such strategic goals in its sight offers us a wide range of possibilities, such as aid for Internet education for adults to free provisions of digital tuners with Internet access to low-income households, to name a few.
Innovations in life sciences and other fields will lead to the emergence of new rights, and eventually to the establishment of 21st century rights. Finland stands at the forefront of such developments because it had no choice. Can Japan afford to coolly observe the goings-on in Finland as an impartial observer? I think it is about time that the country charts its future course seriously.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Ken Sakamura
Quelle/Source: The Mainichi Daily News, 19.12.2009
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