General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUN Considering Proposals to Control Internet - Behind Closed Doors
From http://www.wired.com/opinion/2012/11/you-cant-make-decisions-about-the-open-internet-behind-closed-doors/ :
{The article says the process is structured to take place without transparency and without input from many stakeholders, including the experts who helped build and maintain the internet. But . . . }
Those are just concerns about the process. When you look at some of the proposals themselves, its downright frightening.
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By giving the ITU and its member states more control over cybersecurity, some of the government proposals . . . justify censoring and spying on their citizens.
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The internet is so efficient in part because packets swiftly traverse the network without being confined to a pre-determined route. . . . [but one proposal] would give governments the right to know how its traffic is routed . . . . potentially creating a series of bottlenecks resulting in increased surveillance, slower connection speeds, and increased costs to users.
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Other proposals . . . would increase costs to send content potentially cutting off large swaths of the world from some online services and media.
ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)And the design paradigms are in the network and technology DNA and not subject to bureaucratic whim.
IIRC there was a congressional vote recently to reject UN/ITU takeover...
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)And a massive spy center is being constructed in Utah for collecting data on all of us.
And Obama signed ACTA and then tried to hide it from the US press by calling it a "national security issue."
And the administration has an internet ID plan in progress which has never been discussed with the public.
And after several "cybersecurity" orders were rejected in Congress because of concerns about privacy, Obama wrote an executive order which will force through the measures at any time.
I think we have very good reason to be outraged and concerned about the future, not just because of the UN, but based on our own government's actions.
ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)Also the commercial companies can refuse to carry certain traffic or support the new "features". Silicon Valley does not answer to the ITU
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)Governments should not spy on their citizens. Damn right that's important, and, no, the ability to "get around it" is not the point.
But, then, you already knew that.
ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)in other countries, including western ones, doing so is a crime in itself.
If a person or group is trying to not have their comms intercepted, it can be done, but its a PITA. Clear trade between ease of use and security.
snot
(10,530 posts)And relying on commercial companies to protect my rights -- surely you jest?