U.N. is set to take control of Internet

[Bro.David Drake DeLaurento]

http://politic365.com/2012/06/26/united-nations-readies-for-takeover-of-the-internet/

There are those who simply talk about problems, and there are those who work to address them. Rep. Bono Mack (R-CA) has demonstrated great leadership in taking action to prevent the UN attempt to take over governance of the Internet.

If you’re not familiar with the issue, I’m not surprised.  Even though this could have far-reaching effects on our economy and our wallets, as well as internet freedom, it’s a sleeper issue.

Currently, the Internet – an American invention, after all – is “governed” through a mostly private sector group that reflects the variety of stakeholders who have an interest in a free, open Internet.  Most of the stakeholders are engineers and scientists who actually understand how the Internet works, and the non-profit corporation that manages the Internet is a U.S.-based entity.  This system has let the Internet grow and flourish for two decades, but it’s now under threat from countries like Iran, Russia, and China that have a very different vision for the Internet – one based on government control rather than the free flow of information to citizens.

At the International Telecommunications Union’s World Conference on International Telecommunications in December, these countries and others want to change the current system to one under the direct control of the ITU – a part of the UN.  Governments would have new opportunities to monitor content, set up barriers to the free transfer of information, restrict political discussions they did not like and govern the actual architecture of the Internet itself.  They would substitute stifling bureaucratic control for a private- and independent-sector driven model that has provided the innovation and flexibility that has driven the Internet’s success.  At the conference, there may even be a proposal to introduce some kind of global Internet tax designed to hit large, successful American companies such as Google, Facebook, and Apple.

Given the importance of the Internet to our economy and our daily lives, this is a critical issue for the future.  It’s clearly in America’s interest to rally with other countries who believe in the free internet and together defeat these proposals, and keep the Internet open and free.

This is where Congresswoman Bono Mack comes in.  She introduced a very strong resolution, H. Con. Res. 127, in the House expressing Congress’ disapproval of any proposals for any kind of government control of the Internet.  She also calls on the U.S. to propose a strong delegation leader, “unwavering and principled,” who will stand up to, and rally other nations to go against, any effort to adopt government or UN control of the Internet.

Her resolution, unlike so many these days, has bipartisan support, with the ranking members of the telecommunications subcommittee and the full Energy and Commerce committee supporting it, along with others, for a total of 54 cosponsors so far.

Bono Mack points out that the UN has had the Internet in its sights for almost a decade.  The threat—to freedom of expression and the free exchange of knowledge and information—from losing this battle is frightening.  As she states, “If this power grab is successful, I’m concerned that the next ‘Arab Spring’ will instead become a ‘Russian winter’, where free speech is chilled, not encouraged, and the Internet becomes a wasteland of unfilled hopes, dreams and opportunities.  We can’t let this happen.”

With this resolution, the U.S. negotiators have even stronger support from home for their position, and other countries will be looking over their shoulders wondering what would happen if the U.S. takes away its support for the ITU for other programs.

It’s in everyone’s interest to preserve a free and open Internet.  On the Internet, no one and no country is truly an island; we are all interconnected, and what weakens the Internet in one place weakens it everywhere.   Brava to Rep. Bono Mack for demanding U.S. government backbone to keep the Internet’s “backbone” from government control.

[rbrown1205]

Lovely. I hope this means that porn and spam could be brought under control, but inevitably it will mean that the internet will start costing money.

[Brother_Bliss]

Lovely. I hope this means that porn and spam could be brought under control

Nice thought, and I agree. I would love to see both illegal and carry big fines and penalties.

[Bro.David Drake DeLaurento]

In reading the UTC language proposal, they want to stipulate and control any information that they deem would contradict their mission statment. So, if an entity transmits a comment on a social network, emails or other mediums that biases a group, political party, or ideology that is contrary to their Rule of Law from their Global Compact initiatives with the nations who disapproves, then UTC will levy or impose sanctions. The sanctions can be from monetary to military actions if need be.

This is amazing stuff.

[bohemian]

Why does America claim the invention of the internet? Tim Berners-Lee was English! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Berners-Lee

Having got that off my chest: while I agree that some areas of the internet are a huge danger, is it a cost we must accept for free speech? Who would decide what is appropriate content on the internet? Would jw.org be banned?

Control of internet access must surely be left in the hands of the individual, not "leaders" who assume they know what is best for everyone.

[Hallett 82]

They are kidding . .right? . . it can't be done.

Police in Australia were warning just last week that crime gangs, weapons traders and the filthy underbelly of human crime have a web service that floats under the usual addresses .

Their argument was that too many individuals and coporations have the equipment and servers to bypass the usual IP companies. Police know they are communicating but it is nearly impossible to trace how.

They will only really be able to control the ones they least need to watch. Us! . . they have no hope of reigning in the true criminals.