A U.N. grab for Internet control? (Proposal expected at global summit in Geneva)

World Net Daily ^ | 12/2/03

[truthandlife]

A global summit set for next week in Geneva is expected to provide the venue for a plan to put the Internet under United Nations control.

Developing nations – including China, Syria and Vietnam – are pushing for the U.N. or one of its agencies to regulate the Internet, perhaps as soon as 2005. Diplomats from more than 60 countries plan to take up the issue at the U.N. World Information Summit in Geneva beginning next Wednesday.

At issue are the operations currently run by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN, a California group that assigns Internet protocol addresses and oversees major domains, including .com, .net and .org. The group also helps set technical rules for how the Internet operates. Developing nations said their interests would be better served if the Internet were managed by an intergovernmental group, such as the United Nations or one of its arms.

The U.S., represented at the summit by Ambassador David Gross, the State Department's coordinator for international communications and information policy, is opposing the plan.

The summit's goal is to achieve consensus on a draft declaration of principles and draft plan of action, which reportedly includes a recommendation to place the governance of the Internet under the U.N.

"Standardization is one of the essential building blocks of the Information Society," reads the most recent draft of the WSIS Draft Declaration of Principles. "There should be particular emphasis on the development and adoption of international standards."

Leading the effort is China, which allows its own citizens online access, but only with government surveillance. China has so far been joined in its efforts by representatives of Syria, Egypt, Vietnam and South Africa. Other reports suggest Russia, India, Saudi Arabia and Brazil may be on board, too.

Critics of the global Internet idea say certain nations like China want to take away ICANN's duties and place them under governmental auspices, along with increased control over security and content, placing freedom of press and individual freedom of expression at serious risk.

The summit is expected to attract more than 50 heads of state and 6,000 delegates who will address issues from the digital divide to Internet governance.

[truthandlife]

Personally, I think this will happen within the next 10 years. I don't think the globalist can afford people to have this much freedom on the internet.

[Izzy Dunne]

Developing nations said their interests would be better served if the Internet were managed by an intergovernmental group,

In the words of the great philosopher.... ummm... I forget his name:
BITE ME!

[observer5]

"China, Syria and Vietnam"

Anything coming from these guys must be a GOOD THING!

Aren'y they they all resttricting their people from accessing the Internet?

Morons

[Pern]

Leading the effort is China, which allows its own citizens online access, but only with government surveillance. China has so far been joined in its efforts by representatives of Syria, Egypt, Vietnam and South Africa. Other reports suggest Russia, India, Saudi Arabia and Brazil may be on board, too.

Countries known for their vigorous defense of Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Human Rights, etc.

[BenLurkin]

U.N. control of the internet could only be a bad thing.

[Bikers4Bush]

I don't expect us to give up control of something that we developed.

The nations in favor of the plan are free to develop their own system but they are not free to steal ours.

[demlosers]

Developing nations said their interests would be better served if the Internet were managed by an intergovernmental group,

ROFLOL!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I think you're on to something.

[martin_fierro]

In the words of the great philosopher.... ummm... I forget his name: BITE ME!

That would be me.

I should've trademarked that line LONG ago. I'd be rich! <|:)~

[Sunshine Sister]

Oh goodie. Just what I need is to have China looking over my shoulder!

[Sunshine Sister]

I sure hope you are right. I can see a bunch of countries voting against the US on this. I don't know you control an idea however.

[Ben Hecks]

" ...along with increased control over security and content, placing freedom of press and individual freedom of expression at serious risk."

This is pretty much the bottom line. Sure takes guts to try to steal something that someone else paid for and developed - we should tell the UN to go pound sand. (I can think of another descriptive phrase but this is not the place for it)

[Bikers4Bush]

They can vote against us all they want and it won't matter.

They don't have the technology needed to assume control of the net so unless we give it to them they've got nada.

If by controlling an idea you mean owning it then yes we own it. It's intellectual property that was developed here.

[RansomOttawa]

In the words of the great philosopher.... ummm... I forget his name: BITE ME!

Flunky the Clown? 8-)

[hotpotato]

Can you say... "Global Taxation"?

[.cnI redruM]

This, in and of itself, is reason for the US to quit the UN, kick their sorry a---- out of NYC, and never pay them a dime.

[Sunshine Sister]

I wish I had your confidence. I will pray that you are right!

[Sunshine Sister]

You are 100% right!

[Bikers4Bush]

It's such a horrific idea that I can't even imagine us being willing to go along with it.

I have to believe that we won't give the UN any more power than it already has. Doing so would be economic suicide for the U.S.

[TomGuy]

Developing nations said their interests would be better served if the Internet were managed by an intergovernmental group, such as the United Nations or one of its arms.

Ranks right up there with that International Court and UN Tax on everyone.

But what is one of its arms?