The Internet plays an important role in people's daily life and in all aspects of human society. It is continually evolving and providing citizens with possibilities to access information and services, to connect and to communicate, as well as to share ideas and knowledge globally. The impact of the Internet on social, economic and cultural activities is also growing.

There is an increasing number of cases which relate to the Internet before the European Court of Human Rights. The Court has affirmed that "the Internet has now become one of the principal means by which individuals exercise their right to freedom of expression and information, providing as it does essential tools for participation in activities and discussions concerning political issues and issues of general interest."

The Council of Europe's Internet Governance Strategy 2012-2015 attaches importance to the rights of Internet users. The chapter ‘Maximising Rights and Freedoms for Internet Users', which aims at promoting access to and best use of the Internet includes as a line of action: "drawing up a compendium of existing human rights for Internet users to help them in communicating with and seeking effective recourse to key Internet actors and government agencies when they consider their rights and freedoms have been adversely affected: to report an incident, lodge a complaint or seek a right to reply, redress or other form of recourse".