The term digital rights describes the protections that allow individuals to access, use, create, and publish digital media or to access and use computers, other electronic devices, or communications networks. The term is particularly related to the protection and realization of existing rights, such as the right to privacy or freedom of expression, in the context of new digital technologies, especially the Internet.

In several countries, including Estonia,France,Finland,Greece and Spain,Internet access is considered a human right.

A number of human rights have been identified as relevant with regard to the Internet. These include: freedom of expression, data protection and privacy and freedom of association. Furthermore the right to education and multilingualism, consumer rights, and capacity building in the context of the right to development have also been identified. Human rights have been termed the "missing link" between the technology oriented and the value oriented approaches to the Internet.