The notion of communication rights encompasses a set of human rights as they apply to the contemporary communication environment. Communication rights represent an evolution of Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which provides for freedom of opinion and expression. They include the right to privacy, the right to participation, the right to speak one's own language, the right to access and share knowledge and information, and the right to self-determination (CRIS 2005). They are believed to “support people's capacity to communicate in their general interest and for the common good” (CRIS 2005: 13).