The Hurler On The Ditch

Who will control the internet

John Naughton draws attention to a very important piece in today's Herald Tribune

Beyond the headlines, a critically important battle for control of the Internet is being played out.

On the one side is the United States, which wants to retain supervision of the Internet and has managed to get the reluctant support of most of the global Internet community, which sees America as the least bad of the possible ultimate guardians of the system.

On the other side is a collection of states keen on getting as much as control as possible in order to curtail the Internet's power to undermine their regimes. With the theocracy of Iran as the standard-bearer, this group brings together Saudi Arabia, China, Cuba and Venezuela. North Korea is probably keen to join in as well.

The European Union seems to be in the middle, wavering back and forth - and in its wavering it has recently come down with a position that has brought it enthusiastic applause from Tehran, Beijing and Havana.

This has not received the attention it deserves and there is a danger that by carelessness and default that freedom of expression for many will be reduced. The squabbling continued without a decision being made as reported in The Register.

posted by Hurler @ 8:13 pm