Richard Trumka, "They're trying to take the Internet"

[TexasProgresive]

This year, they tried to take our cupcakes and our football referees. Now, they're
trying to take the Internet.

We don't usually email you about internet rights, but this is big. Next week, a UN
conference in Dubai will consider amendments to a treaty that would significantly
infringe on our internet policy.

This isn't hyperbole-the Internet as we know it is at risk. Sign the petition, and
support freedom of association and freedom of speech on the internet. [
act.aflcio.org/c/18/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=5157&tag=em20121203 ]

The International Telecommunications Union (or ITU), a United Nations agency, is
considering new rules that could clamp down on the fundamental freedoms of citizens
online. A group of giant internet corporations and countries, including China, Egypt
and Saudi Arabia-countries that already impose heavy restrictions on internet
freedoms-have put forward proposed regulatory changes to the UN World Conference on
International Telecommunications in December 3.

Under their proposals, governments and companies all over the world have much more
scope to restrict internet access and monitor what we do online.

So far the proposal has flown under the radar, but its implications are so serious
that we're mobilizing right now to make sure that the ITU and its member countries
know that we won't let them take away our right to free speech online. And this
won't just have repercussions in the US-people in poorer countries and under
dictatorships would be hurt even more.

If accepted, the changes would allow:
* Increased government restriction or blocking of information disseminated via the
internet;
* Creation of a global regime of monitoring internet communications, including the
demand that those who send and receive information identify themselves ;
* Requirement that the Internet only be used in a 'rational' way;
* Governments to shut down internet access if they decide that it may interfere in
the internal affairs of countries or that information of a 'sensitive nature'
might be shared;
* Introduction of a new pricing regime which would increase costs and slow down
internet growth, especially in the poorer countries.


So many workers are affected by internet policy, even if we don't think about it as
we go about our day. The Internet represents one of the few places in our world that
is open and accessible by everyone. We need to make sure our voices are heard before
US representatives head to the conference.

Stop the proposal to restrict the Internet in its tracks by signing right now:

go.aflcio.org/Stop-The-Net-Grab [
act.aflcio.org/c/18/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=5157&tag=em20121203 ]

In Solidarity,

Richard Trumka
President, AFL-CIO

*****

Visit us:
http://www.aflcio.org/
http://www.facebook.com/aflcio
http://twitter.com/#!/aflcio

Text WORK to AFLCIO (235246) to join our text action team. (Message and data rates
may apply.)

Edit to add link to petition:
http://act.aflcio.org/c/18/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=5157

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

1. K & R

[abelenkpe]

2. K&R

Next week? I thought it was this week. Either way....

[Enrique]

3. "requirement that the Internet only be used in a rational way"

good luck with that one.

[ejbr]

10. particularly with the freepers. n/t

[longship]

27. Does that mean no more pr0n?

Shit! I knew this happen sometime!

[Starry Messenger]

4. K&R

[JaneyVee]

5. Trumka 2016.

[WillyT]

6. HUGE K & R !!!

[Cha]

7. Thanks TexasProgressive!

[rhett o rick]

8. Of course they will. It is our most powerful tool. nm

[wildbilln864]

9. k & r! nt

[ThoughtCriminal]

11. Found this

http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/un-treaties/270389-afl-cio-urges-the-un-to-drop-proposed-internet-regulations

"The lead U.S. negotiator in Dubai, Terry Kramer, told reporters in a conference call Thursday that the Obama administration would oppose efforts to expand the scope of the treaty beyond telecommunications.

Terms related to the Internet open “the door to content and content censorship, and we believe that is inappropriate,” Kramer said."

[The Doctor.]

32. I just love being right about Obama.

He's got our back.

[lib2DaBone]

12. They are not "trying".....

They will get complete control of the internet. Install subscription fees and download fees.

Americans will remain silent as their freedom is stripped away.
The government is NOT your friend... Washington could care LESS about you and your family.

All your elected officials are bought, sold... and paid for.

[leftyohiolib]

22. Washington could care LESS about you and your family. i think you mean couldnt care less

[midnight]

13. K&R

[silverweb]

14. K&R

[FarCenter]

15. The main issues are continued US control of the Internet and about money

The not-boring guide to the United Nations’ non-takeover of the Internet

http://www.digitaltrends.com/web/united-nations-wcit-itu-internet-takeover-thing

Due to the Internet being developed in the US using mainly DoD DARPA funds, the critical infrastructure of the internet like the DNS root zone servers and the assignment of numbers are done by the US. In wireline voice telephony a lot of this would be under control of the ITU.

In wireline voice telephony the ITU coordinates the rules and regulations for how carriers in different countries charge each other for initiating and terminating international calls. Due to the Internet being an overgrown science experiment, it has no built in charging mechanism. I'm not sure how carriers compensate each other for carrying each other's traffic, but it used to be pretty ad hoc. As things like video calling over the internet become more common, its doubtful that this can last.

[starroute]

16. Here's a good video on the subject

&feature=youtu.be

[shawn703]

17. Debunking rumors of an Internet takeover

PARIS — This just in from Geneva: The United Nations has no plans to seize control of the Internet. The Web-snatching black helicopters have not left the hangar.

Internet conspiracy theorists will be disappointed. The latest one, fueled by “open Internet” groups, Internet companies like Google and some U.S. lawmakers, was that mouse-clicking bureaucrats at U.N. headquarters in Geneva, supported by governments suspicious of the United States, were scheming to take over the Internet itself.

The plot went something like this: At a meeting in December of an obscure U.N. agency called the International Telecommunication Union, Russia, China and their ilk would try to wrest oversight of the Internet away from the loose collection of public and private organizations that do the job now, handing this responsibility to the I.T.U. All sorts of bad things, from censorship to the breakup of the Internet, would ensue.

By last month these fears had grown so fevered that U.S. lawmakers introduced a resolution calling on the government to block proposals that “would justify under international law increased government control over the Internet and would reject the current multistakeholder model that has enabled the Internet to flourish.”



http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/technology/debunking-rumors-of-an-internet-takeover.html?pagewanted=all

[cstanleytech]

18. Here we go again.

http://www.betterworldcampaign.org/what-we-are-doing/itu_myth_fact.html

And if you believed the original story tsk tsk.

[AverageJoe90]

19. Does seem a tad hyperbolic, tbh......

Especially given that I used to see a lot of this kind of thing coming from InfoWars and other conspiracy sites concerning the supposed imminent shutdown of the Internet every now and then, so you'll have to forgive me.

That said, there does appear to be legitimate cause for concern, especially since China and the now Muslim Brotherhood controlled Egypt appear to be on the board of this discussion panel.

[FarCenter]

21. Well, it's part of the UN, so cue the black helicopters

Overview

ITU (International Telecommunication Union) is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies – ICTs.

We allocate global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develop the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect, and strive to improve access to ICTs to underserved communities worldwide.

ITU is committed to connecting all the world's people – wherever they live and whatever their means. Through our work, we protect and support everyone's fundamental right to communicate.

http://www.itu.int/en/about/Pages/default.aspx

History

ITU was founded in Paris in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union. It took its present name in 1932, and in 1947 became a specialized agency of the United Nations. Although its first area of expertise was the telegraph, the work of ITU now covers the whole ICT sector, from digital broadcasting to the Internet, and from mobile technologies to 3D TV. An organization of public-private partnership since its inception, ITU currently has a membership of 193 countries and some 700 private-sector entities. ITU is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and has twelve regional and area offices around the world.

http://www.itu.int/en/about/Pages/history.aspx

It was originally begun to work out how to send telegrams internationally by setting standards for such things as the electrical transmission interfaces for sending the dots and dashes and the business arrangements for splitting the revenues collected from the customers among the carriers involved in the telegram.

[leftyohiolib]

20. it's a news outlet they fear b/c they dont have control over it

now theyre trying to change that

[Octafish]

23. The planet needs a First Amendment.

UN should encourage democracy for a change.

[FarCenter]

25. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Article 18.
• Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19.
• Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20.
• (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
• (2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21.
• (1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
• (2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
• (3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml

[limpyhobbler]

24. K+R

[Uncle Joe]

26. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, TexasProgresive.

[rosesaylavee]

28. K&R

[patrice]

29. K&R

[joeunderdog]

30. We won elections this year because of the internet.

The RW wants it to call their own--just like they took the media. Control the message, control the elections.

They love that no one is talking about this. It's high on their agenda.

[Tigress DEM]

31. Done

[Eyes of the World]

33. Internet shutdown fueled the Arab Spring

The illusion of free speech, and the quaint notion that one is exercising it by participating in a chat room, channels and dispels popular discontent.

The effects of eliminating that channel have already been noted: everyone leaves their house to find out what is going on, fueling popular uprising.

The internet may be dangerous to the PTB, but heavy censorship would probably be just as dangerous.

In other words: I'd like to see them try.

[Ninga]

34. Done

[Berlum]

35. k & r

eom

[DhhD]

36. Sometimes, it seems, the UN is not compatible with the US Constitution.

[jonesgirl]

37. Why do I get the feeling this isn't what they are making it out to be. Could they

actually control the internet, or are they doing this just to begin rules and regulations for the internet? Capitalism at it's best.