Canada joins Western countries rejecting UN Internet treaty

National Post ^ | December 13, 2012 | Brian Murphy

[Squawk 8888]

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Canada is refusing to sign a United Nations telecommunications treaty over fears it would give governments control over the internet.

Canada is part of a Western bloc, including the U.S., Britain, and several European nations, that is snubbing the new treaty which was expected to be signed Friday at the end of ten days of hard negotiations at the World Conference on International Telecommunications.

A rival group — including China, Russia, Gulf Arab states, African nations and others — favoured UN backing for stronger government sway over Internet affairs and claimed the Western dominance of the Internet needed to be addressed.

The unraveling of the conference displayed the deep ideological divide at the 193-nation gathering in Dubai, where envoys grappled with the first revisions of global telecom codes since 1988 — years before the dawn of the Internet age.

[Squawk 8888]

To all- please ping me to Canadian topics.

Canada Ping!

[Dutch Boy]

As always, oppressive governments want to oppress. How long before we side with them? I have a feeling that if Obama could get away with it, he would love to have control over internet content.

[jsanders2001]

The real God will slap that wannabe to the next solar system...lol

We can’t allow any laws set in place by foreign powers to become the “law of the planet” especially here on U.S. soil lest it will set a horrible precedent and invite the one world government to becom reality. The bureaucratic incrementalism in regard to infringement of human rights is really being stepped up with this administration.

[molson209]

so let China, Russia, Gulf Arab states, African nations control their own internet , D’oh , Oh wait LOL

[Gene Eric]

dot.ca bump!

[EricT.]

I find it funny that this conference is being held in Dubai, where a lot of the internet is blocked by the government.

Also, there is a TV channel there that shows Sheikh Khalifa doing official-looking stuff 24-7. It’s marginally better than CNN-International... don’t ask me how I know this...

[reg45]

The UN can their own “Splinternet”.

[himno hero]

Let the OIC develop and deliver their own internet instead of squaking how our technologies will open up their countries to change. Hope and change for those backwards asses using our technology, right down to their keyboards.