House approves resolution to keep Internet control out of UN hands
December 6, 2012
(Credit: ITU)
The House on Wednesday unanimously passed a Senate resolution introduced by Sens. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) that calls on the U.S. government to oppose United Nations control of the Internet, The Hill’s Floor Action Blog reports.
The 397-0 vote is meant to send a signal to countries meeting at a U.N. conference on telecommunications this week. Participants are meeting to update an international telecom treaty, but critics warn that many countries’ proposals could allow U.N. regulation of the Internet.
The World Conference on International Telecommunications is meeting this week in Dubai, and Walden said representatives of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as well as representatives from Congress are attending to “keep an eye” on the proceedings.
The resolution, S.Con.Res. 50, says it is the sense of Congress that the U.S. government should “continue working to implement the position of the United States on Internet governance that clearly articulates the consistent and unequivocal policy of the United States to promote a global Internet free from government control.”
The Senate passed it in September by unanimous consent.
Comments (44)
by Christian Gehman
Free from government control means open to government snooping?
by World of Spycraft
The government doesn’t even have to snoop. It just knows. Everything sent without encryption – which is practically everything – is like mailing a card that gets copied by the government.
by Ameriphile
“FREE FROM GOVERNMENT CONTROL”
Now there’s something you could print on a T-shirt!
Sweeter words I have yet to see uttered by a government!
by Mr.X
@Ameri: Lol.You MUST be an American.Or how else explain this “unique view” of reality?
by IIchron714
How is the desire to be free from government control a “unique view” of reality?
by Dan Robinson
When I see a unanimous decision I wonder if they’re all listening to the same questionable info, or in this case, their own imagined omnipotence. Why shouldn’t a planetary network be under control of (our best attempt at) a planetary government?
by Christian Gehman
We don’t yet have a planetary government. The Un has not proved adept or even competent at regulating anything including the production of food, the flow of the tides, human migration, hurricanes, wars between its members, terrorism or genocide. Despite the Un’s lackluster effects on the real world, some people want to give the Un control over the Internet; as if the current system isn’t bad enough, they want to give “control” to humans who haven’t yet managed to control anything important. The only question is, “Why?” and its corollary: “Cui Bono?”
by steve
As a gay man I really don’t like the die of a global government. I can just imagine it being like the UN, a tool for Islamic conservatives who want to persecute gays. I can envision the laws being passed & the people being round up for execution. just like in Cambodia & Poland, Where would someone run to to seek asylum? Sorry, but I think global government was one of the worst ideas of the 20th century.
by Marek
Being round up for execution in Poland for being gay? Never heard of. In fact Poland has gay men and transgender politicians in parliament. Do you have in yours?
by Ozric
To what ends? You would have to prove that attempting to control people has beneficial effects before that would be a logical step. I get that there are maladaptive behaviors, but that doesn’t mean attempting to directly control them reduces the occurrence of them. Much more effective to address the source of those behaviors.
by IIchron714
Number One: As the commenter below has stated, the UN is too inept to be a planetary government.
Number Two: Imagine if we had a planetary government. Is anyone naive enough to believe it would be free and democratic? Under a planetary government with control over the Internet, there would be nowhere for dissenters to hide (good incentive to colonize Mars, though). Anyone who disagreed with the government could be found by the “all seeing eye” in seconds. Welcome to 1984.
by Spikosauropod
It is reassuring that they passed this resolution. It remains to be seen how much influence it will have, but there hearts are in the right place.
by Spikosauropod
Why is this comment awaiting approval?
by MrFriendly
The anti-america trolls are loose, so I guess the editor is being cautious. I dunno.
by Editor
Akismet (spam detection system used by WordPress) apparently found a string in your comment that it identified as spam, and I was offline, so I couldn’t override it.
by Christian Gehman
Sounds like you’re in favor of pandering to the mediocrity of the results achieved by career bureaucrats …
by Mr.X
“But its hardly surprising the most affluent state on earth declines to give up its control of root servers”
Americonomics: The most endebted can consider himself rich ;I)
by MrFriendly
*ignores the troll bait*
by Mr.X
*ignores the troll bait*
by Mr.X
My dog is friendly but dumb^^
Anyway: The house is right.The UN is not to be trusted.It’s HQ is de facto in the USA!Furthermore I played sid meier’s alpha centauri where they were led by an Arab (!!!1) and backstabbed me!Suffice it to say, double-crossing Mr.X doesn’t pay off…
So tell em house!
by Gabriel
Arrrg, can’t we just be happy for five minutes and scream “USA! USA! USA!!!?
How often in the doom-and-gloom media do we hear something this good? that also was done by America?
Let’s act like it’s Christmas, forget about our problems for a little while, and scream how good life is – THAT”s the appropriate response to this ^^.
by MrFriendly
Agreed.
I’m not sure if people misinterpreted my vague Dave Chappelle reference xD.
“Sanction us, UN. Sanction us with your army…”
by Mr.X
@Gabriel:
“How often in the doom-and-gloom media do we hear something this good? that also was done by America?”
In your media it sounds as if “good” is ONLY done by the USA.
Anyway; don’t worry, be happy:)
by Damon Montano
In other words, think and act like children? Reaction can be determined in hindsight and by chance to have been correct, but a thorough examination of the issue is the correct path.
by MrFriendly
I’ve yet to see any “thorough examinations” in this comments section. Instead, as usual, a couple of trolls hop on to issue thinly-veiled insults in order to get a fight started, like the true 12-year-old sociopaths they are.
It’s best just to ignore them. You can’t possibly have an intelligent discussion or a civilized debate with these kids.
by Vin
Ok, what if i define affluence as influence with the world bank and other such significant financial institutions? Does America (==collective elite that control same) come out on top?
by Mr.X
@Vin: Let’s define it as “calories consumed per capita”, then everyone, everywhere, will be forced to agree with us.
by Christian Gehman
On the contrary, America has impoverished over half its citizens and government on all levels so that the Rich Can Get Richer.
by Damon Montano
….agreed.
by MrFriendly
Sanction us, UN. Sanction us with your army…
by Ameriphile
As a European under the government of the powerhungry socialists – who apparently have the UN in their grip – I give my thanks and praise to the U.S., the last remaining land of the truly free, for this.
USA = Freedom.
Never forget what sacrifices it took.
(Think I’ll emigrate over there eventually… suggest a state/city?)
by MrFriendly
Georgia. It’s beautiful :)
Just gets hot as hell in the summer.
by Gorden Russell
Emigrate to upstate New York. A lot of people have had to leave to look for work in Georgia, so there are lots of empty houses and rent is cheaper here. We only have a few really hot days in summer. When it gets cold in winter, maybe you can visit Mr. Friendly for December, January, and February.
by Ryan
Don’t pick Nebraska. Typically very cold (and snowy) in winter and very, very hot in summer with about two weeks of spring and autumn between. This year has been very odd so far as it really hasn’t snowed nor has it gotten cold (yet).
by MrFriendly
We have a lot of untapped land that’s being turned into lovely residential areas.
What’s the average summer temperature up there, Gorden? We usually hit the mid-90′s through July.
by Mr.X
@Ameriphile: Look up socialist.I bet you’re just another American^^
by Mr.X
@Ameriphile: Which freedom do you have that I don’t?
Which sacrificies did you guys personally make?
Nothing.
by Tony Stender
Missoula Montana ….. come visit me
by Christian Gehman
Virginia actually has the worst of the northern winter along with the worst of the southern summer. But since the South has riz again, I think — anywhere down South is better, unless you really, really like rainy days, in which case Seattle or Portland might make you happy.
by Damon Montano
Stay out of Wyoming, we don’t want any more people….
by Vin
Irrelevant. As irrelevant as inertia-burdened government is exponentially becoming.
People will just build their own internets and police gateways accordingly, especially when exponential explosions of technology provide increasing resource to do so. The only but likely significant problem for oppressive government is citizens likewise become savvy at accessing illegal content and networks :D.
Ironic really, this citizen/government arms race when citizens are technically government’s subscribers.
But its hardly surprising the most affluent state on earth declines to give up its control of root servers (Bush wins again!): the expense of this voting charade is just another hollow excuse for justifying taxation.
Ok, end of rant :D
by Gorden Russell
“…especially when exponential explosions of technology provide increasing resource to do so.”
Right Vin, the key word is exponential. And pretty soon the exponent will have an exponent.
by Christian Gehman
I want the police to protect me from YOU.
by Vin
Me? I’m perfectly harmless :D