U.S. tells nations hands off Internet

LazerLordz SG

U.S. tells nations hands off Internet

By John Zarocostas
SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES
September 27, 2005

GENEVA -- The United States said at the outset of global talks on information technology yesterday that it will fight attempts to put the United Nations or any international group in charge of the Internet.

"We want to make sure the private sector leads and the Internet continues to be a reservoir of great innovation, and that governments continue to focus on enabling the growth of the Internet, and not of controlling its use," Ambassador David A. Gross told The Washington Times in an interview.

Major developing nations spearheaded by China, Brazil, South Africa, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and a number of industrialized countries including Norway, Switzerland and Russia would like to see the United States relinquish its historic control of the Internet.

"This situation is very undemocratic, unfair and unreasonable," said Sha Zukang, the ambassador from China, which this week imposed new rules that allow only "healthy and civilized" news to be read by the mainland's 100 million Web users.

China's government will determine which news is healthy and which news is not.

The question of Internet governance is the most politically charged issue in preparatory talks here for the second World Information Society Summit to be held in Tunis, Tunisia, in November.

Mr. Gross, U.S. coordinator for international communications and information policy, said the role of the U.S. government is "to ensure stability and reliability of the Internet.

"We will take no action that would undermine that stability," he said.
The U.S.-based ICANN -- or Internet Corp. for Assigned Names and Numbers -- is a nonprofit corporation that administers the Internet's domain name system.

Massod Khan, Pakistan's ambassador and chairman of the Internet governance segment of the talks, said the issues are difficult and added "there is a will to engage, but we have to wait for the outcome."

Paul Twomey, president of ICANN, said his organization does not want to see "the Internet's technological future politicized."

http://www.washtimes.com/world/20050926-094916-3102r.htm Full report here..

robertteh SG

There is something all countries ought to learn - openness leads to spirits of enquiries and scientific empirism and fruitful search for truths, the ultimate and indispensable conditions for progress.

Let us face it, the progress of civilization is largely due to men's open and unrestrained scientifc quest for truths and facts. This factor of national success has been amply proven over centuries by men of science over the years. It is not a question of pride but biologically the Asians seem to be shy of criticism and openness. Their leaders' lack of openness or kiasuism can be seen in kiasu political controls as well methodology used in regulating the countries.

If any countries want progress and better lives for their citizens, their leaders should open up to permit freedoms of views and search for truths and knowledge and applications of science and technology. Opening up of society to allow people to mature in political wisdoms is one major factor of success.

But sad to say owing to biology perhaps, we often found quick claims and assumptions made for slightest progress whether in nation building or business. Why so narrow and self-centred in attitude towards fellow human beings. If not for application of scientific and technological advances made in the west we may still be in the backwaters.

Yet our leaders were so quick to claim superiority for 40 years of nation building without knowing this truth. Our leaders should be more humble and objective and allow citizens' greater openness and liberal pursuits by the citizens to practise choices in every field. It is the same for business, R& D or political participations. Open pursuit of knowledge and truths have brought about progress for many people in the western world for many years. This will still be the surest way to allow citizens to be competitive and make progess in whatever they are doing to make decent living.

Arrogance has gone to the head of our leaders who are making claims of world's bests every day. I would suggest that their initial success in management area has not been sustained in applying existing knowledge due to lack of encouraging citizens in open pursuits of knowledge.

It will be myopic to claim success when success was attributable to taxing and recovering costs from the citizens. Real success will come from open pursuits of science and technolgies in every field.

Let the leaders learn from the world westerners' perspective on the internet. Internet reflects the same human spirit of qnquiries and hunger for truths. Through internet, citizens will make greater progress to empower scientific pursuits.

By taking actions on people for so-called racism in blogs without fully understanding the whole issue about openness and spirit of enquiries, we are making a wrong move. Let the internet stay open without interfering by the state to clamp down on this or that on the slightest excuse for political kiasuism.

We are already subjected to too many minute control in our lives. We are already limited in intellectual space with many uncalled for restrictions in our lives.

Let the international views upholding openness of blogs or internets be another reminder to our leaders that kiasuism in politics will not work. Their narrow attitude towards information and views is at fault not society or citizens. Look at the NKF case, their faults do not become truths after 20 years of denial about promotion of elites or their reward system.

There is a need to be not so kiasu or else no matter what they do they will be finally hurting their own people's progress. It is not a smart move to try to extend state control on the net.

TIB1133B SG

What the hell is the USA up to? Don’t tell me they also want to have a monopoly on the world’s information as well?

LazerLordz SG

On the contrary, they will not let any single nation/entity control the Internet other than themselves.After all, the ICANN group has been very laissez-faire.

Anyway, would you trust China, Saudi Arabia and Russia to run the Internet?Never.

And please don't even think of getting Singapore to run the Internet.We have screwed up enough in terms of intellectual maturity and space.

TIB1133B SG

How about the EU nations? Can you trust any of them with information control?

vito_corleone SG

no fucken way am i gonna let a bunch of NATO euro-wusses run the net. Laughing

ditzy SG

Hey as long as the head ain't from ahem ahem, its fine with me whichever nation runs it. Laughing

archon1234 SG

Internet is the most powerful tool invented by human on earth. No only it provide venues for people to search for infos, it also negate the physical boundaries and many political red-tapes around the world. US would not yield under international pressure, and let the Internet being regulated by some foregin power.

With control of internet, US has a vast advantage on information power over all her rivals. It also allows the US to taps ideas and talents all over the worlds. It helps US to spread her cultural influences at a speed much faster than Hollywood movies, and by-pass many road blocks as well.

coffeeortea SG

indeed, singapore has not yet matured or is capable of handling such a great responsibility.

vito_corleone SG

the ones who invented it keep it. Laughing europeans should just go screw their outdated, liberal wussy selves.

laurence82 SG

The latest fracas over student bloggers do really justify this....

Targa SG

TAKE YOUR DIRTY HANDS OFF THE INTERNET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BillyBong SG

We already have moderators who patrol the netwaves at govt level and sift through the filth and slime that pour over each country on a daily basis.

Relinquishing complete control of the internet to some bossy international organisation who thinks they know best is just stupid. Arrogance and EGO personified.

USA should have more reasons to seize control of the internet. With Terrorist cells using it to spread their misguided lies, the internet has become a source of propaganda, and one which TV stations like Al-Jazeera proliferate. Yet leaving it in the hands of the private sector may be the best choice.

The internet will always be a source of good and bad. Like a half-baked pandora's box, it's up to the individual to screen the information and decide.