Internet use in prisons allows inmates to communicate with the outside world. Much like the use of telephones in prisons, the use of the internet under supervision, for various purposes, is approved in 49 U.S. correctional systems and five Canadian provinces. Each of the reporting U.S. systems, except Hawaii, Iowa, Nebraska and Nevada, use computers to employ inmate educational programs, as do all five reporting provinces in Canada. There are 36 reporting U.S. systems to handle inmate health issues via telemedicine. However much like the use of mobile phones in prison, internet access without supervision, via a smartphone, or personal laptop/iPad is banned for all inmates.
Internet access in prisons globally
Australia
Prisoner access to computer facilities and Internet resources varies across jurisdictions in Australia. In some states personal computer capable devices are permitted for use in cells, managed Internet access is provided in some, while in other states all existing devices are withdrawn. The use of computers is generally for study, legal purposes, and managed reintegration. The rationale for this policy is to ensure that all prisoners in need of access to computer for educational or legal purposes are not to be disadvantaged. The policy reduces and effectively manages the risks associated with prisoner access to computers in cells.
Belgium
Since 2013, Belgium has in 1 prison (in Beveren) a solution called PrisonCloud installed. It is a secure electronic platform that is installed in every cell. Amongst IPTV, Video on Demand, E-learning, Webshop, Request forms, Calendar, TeleVisitation, ... and many others there is also a secured internet available. Categorized in different areas of interest only approved websites are offered to the inmates. They can only surf to that specific website, have no break out possibilities to other websites and every form field on every web page of an allowed website can be blocked. This gives the prison the opportunity to open up websites that otherwise would not be possible, especially Learning Management Systems on the Internet.
Canada
In Canada, inmates are legally barred from internet access.
Germany
In Germany, access to the internet is allowed in a few states.
Iceland
In Iceland, inmates in open environment prisons are allowed limited access to internet (social media and porn being barred) and browsing activity logged. Inmates in other classes of Icelandic prisons are banned from using the internet but use various methods to gain access, this is kindly overlooked by prison officers as long as inmates are not caught browsing or the prison does not receive complaints about threatening or offensive behaviour online.
Malaysia
Since 2008, Malaysian Prison Department has allowed selected prisoners who have undergone higher education learning to use internet as their study mode. Open University Malaysia (OUM) become the first university in Malaysia who offered higher education to prisoners. Being a university that focused on online learning, OUM had provided a flexible learning system to the inmates. The role played by OUM in offering the education programs mark significant efforts in changing the path for inmates to lead productive lives in society.
The prison allocated the usage of computer and internet by the inmates from 8 am to 5pm daily. The prison management authority will also monitor and access the usage of the internet whereby it is strictly only for the learning purposes in getting references from the OUM digital library which has 700,000 references online. Their study time is limited and they must fully utilize it for learning.
Norway
Closed prisons (high security prisons) do not allow the use of mobile smartphones while mid to low security do. All of these prisons have a limited access to Internet and prisoners do not have access to social media. Besides, all activities can be tracked. This is a similar policy as in Iceland's open prisons, but does allow all prisoners access to internet while well behaved and this strategy has proven to be rewarding and does relieve stress from staff.
Philippines
In the Philippines, prisoners are allowed to access the Internet while closely supervised.