"It's time to recognise the Internet as a basic human right," said Berners-Lee in a statement to mark his foundation's 2014 Web Index, which ranks 86 countries in terms of internet access; freedom and openness; political, social and economic empowerment; and relevant content.
"That means guaranteeing affordable access for all, ensuring Internet packets are delivered without commercial or political discrimination, and protecting the privacy and freedom of Web users regardless of where they live," he said.
Mass surveillance and the threat to democracy
This year's Index, which focuses on inequality, points out that the Web is becoming increasingly skewed in favour of wealthier nations which can manipulate access for both commercial and political purposes.
"Current trends suggest that we stand at a crossroads," says the report, "between a Web ‘for everyone', which strengthens democracy and creates opportunity for all, or a ‘winner-takes-all' Web that puts more economic and political power into the hands of a few."
Though the Web has the potential to act as a universal equaliser for the good of true democracy, this will only happen "if we hardwire the rights to privacy, freedom of expression, affordable access and net neutrality into the rules of the game," said Berners-Lee.
As legal safeguards against government snooping have been eroded over the past year, the percentage of countries failing the Index's test for basic privacy safeguards has shot up from the 2013 figure of 63% to 84%.
Berners-Lee, an outspoken critic of mass snooping by US and UK intelligence agencies, said at last year's Index release that whistle-blowers like Edward Snowden should be valued and protected.
In an interview earlier this year, which marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Web, he said that the Web is "vital to democracy and now more critical to free expression than any other medium".
European Parliament Votes to Protect Neutrality
With regard to interference for commercial purposes, the European Parliament last week voted to protect net neutrality, saying that all data available online should be treated equally, regardless of the source or type and agreeing to enshrine this into EU legislation, as part of new rules for the telecommunications sector.
Telecoms companies can still offer specialised services such as video-conferencing and high-definition TV, but only as long as they do not slow down other services to the general public or interfere with open access to the Internet.
However, several MEPs expressed scepticism over the effectiveness of the measure. Swedish MEP Amelia Andersdotter said: "A centre-right majority has regrettably supported proposals which would essentially give large providers the all clear for discriminating against users as they see fit."
"We don't oppose specialised services, but the development of them should not affect the speed or the quality of the average consumer's access," said Spanish MEP Teresa Riera.
No Access at all for Most
While many of us take rapid broadband connections and an infinite array of online possibilities for granted, the Index says that of the world's population of 7 billion, 4.4 billion have no Internet access, while the access of 1.8 billion is restricted. This leads to a variety of socio-political and economic inequalities which the Index calls on policy makers to tackle.
Rich countries such as the Scandinavian nations dominate the top of the ranking for the third year running.
Infographic: www.thewebindex.org
