U.N. Wants Control of Internet

[Chilly]

http://news.com.com/Will+the+U.N.+run+the+...html?tag=st.pop

 

An international political spat is brewing over whether the United Nations will seize control of the heart of the Internet.

U.N. bureaucrats and telecommunications ministers from many less-developed nations claim the U.S. government has undue influence over how things run online. Now they want to be the ones in charge.

 

While the formal proposal from a U.N. working group will be released July 18, it's already clear what it will contain. A preliminary summary of governmental views claims there's a "convergence of views" supporting a new organization to oversee crucial Internet functions, most likely under the aegis of the United Nations or the International Telecommunications Union.

 

 

Beyond the usual levers of diplomatic pressure and public kvetching, Brazil and China could choose what amounts to the nuclear option: a fragmented root. At issue is who decides key questions like adding new top-level domains, assigning chunks of numeric Internet addresses, and operating the root servers that keep the Net humming. Other suggested responsibilities for this new organization include Internet surveillance, "consumer protection," and perhaps even the power to tax domain names to pay for "universal access."

 

This development represents a grave political challenge to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which was birthed by the U.S. government to handle some of those topics.

 

A recent closed-door meeting in Geneva convened by the U.N.'s Working Group on Internet Governance offers clues about the plot to dethrone ICANN. As these excerpts from a transcript show, dissatisfaction and general-purpose griping is rampant:

 

• Syria: "There's more and more spam every day. Who are the victims? Developing and least-developed countries, too. There is no serious intention to stop this spam by those who are the transporters of the spam, because they benefit...The only solution is for us to buy equipment from the countries which send this spam in order to deal with spam. However, this, we believe, is not acceptable."

 

• Brazil, responding to ICANN's approval of .xxx domains: "For those that are still wondering what Triple-X means, let's be specific, Mr. Chairman. They are talking about pornography. These are things that go very deep in our values in many of our countries. In my country, Brazil, we are very worried about this kind of decision-making process where they simply decide upon creating such new top-level generic domain names."

 

• China: "We feel that the public policy issue of Internet should be solved jointly by the sovereign states in the U.N. framework...For instance, spam, network security and cyberspace--we should look for an appropriate specialized agency of the United Nations as a competent body."

 

• Ghana: "There was unanimity for the need for an additional body...This body would therefore address all issues relating to the Internet within the confines of the available expertise which would be anchored at the U.N."

 

The "nuclear option"

Those proclamations served to flush out the Bush administration, which recently announced that it will not hand over control of Internet domain names and addresses to anyone else.

 

That high-profile snub of the United Nations could presage an international showdown. The possibility of a political flap over what has long been an abstruse Net-governance issue casts a shadow over ICANN's meeting this week in Luxembourg, and will be the topic of a July 28 symposium in Washington, D.C., called "Regime Change on the Internet."

 

The nuclear option could create a Balkanized Internet where two computers find different Web sites at the same address.Beyond the usual levers of diplomatic pressure and public kvetching, Brazil and China could choose what amounts to the nuclear option: a fragmented root. That means a new top-level domain would not be approved by ICANN--but would be recognized and used by large portions of the rest of the world. The downside, of course, is that the nuclear option could create a Balkanized Internet where two computers find different Web sites at the same address.

 

"It wasn't until now" that a fragmented root was being talked about, says Milton Mueller, a professor at Syracuse University and participant in the Internet Governance Project. "China and other countries might be pursuing responses that lead to fragmentation."

 

Such an outcome remains remote, but it could happen. That possibility means an obscure debate about Internet governance has suddenly become surprisingly important.

[Live&DieBillsFootball]

Since Al Gore invented the internet, I think that the US should be the rightful owners of it.

[The Avenger]

Since Al Gore invented the internet, I think that the US should be the rightful owners of it.    

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I love the way that Al Gore is constantly bashed for claiming to invent the Internet when he never did. Typical conservative M.O. - take something out of context, repeat it enough times and it becomes "fact". So much "fact" that nobody ever bothers to look into it themselves.

 

Gore said the following:

 

During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet. I took the initiative in moving forward a whole range of initiatives that have proven to be important to our country's economic growth and environmental protection, improvements in our educational system.

 

He claimes he fostered the creation of the Internet, not that he invented it. Self-serving yes, claiming credit for a major technological invention no. Creation does not equal inventing.

 

Gore no more "invented" the Internet than Ike "invented" the interstate highway system.

 

Complete Link

[OnTheRocks]

I love the way that Al Gore is constantly bashed for claiming to invent the Internet when he never did. Typical conservative M.O. - take something out of context, repeat it enough times and it becomes "fact". So much "fact" that nobody ever bothers to look into it themselves.

 

Gore said the following:

 

During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet. I took the initiative in moving forward a whole range of initiatives that have proven to be important to our country's economic growth and environmental protection, improvements in our educational system.

 

He claimes he fostered the creation of the Internet, not that he invented it. Self-serving yes, claiming credit for a major technological invention no. Creation does not equal inventing.

 

Gore no more "invented" the Internet than Ike "invented" the interstate highway system.

 

Complete Link

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Tomato

Tomoto

 

[Crap Throwing Monkey]

During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet. I took the initiative in moving forward a whole range of initiatives that have proven to be important to our country's economic growth and environmental protection, improvements in our educational system.

 

He claimes he fostered the creation of the Internet, not that he invented it. Self-serving yes, claiming credit for a major technological invention no. Creation does not equal inventing.

Complete Link

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Actually, he claims he "took the initiative in creating", not "fostered".

 

But...well, if creation doesn't equal inventing, then you're right. He didn't invent it. He just created it. That's a HELL of a lot less stupid...

[The Avenger]

Actually, he claims he "took the initiative in creating", not "fostered".

 

But...well, if creation doesn't equal inventing, then you're right.  He didn't invent it.  He just created it.  That's a HELL of a lot less stupid...  

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The words "create" and "invent" have distinctly different meanings — the former is used in the sense of "to bring about" or "to bring into existence" while the latter is generally used to signify the first instance of someone's thinking up or implementing an idea.

 

In this sense, creating = fostering ("to bring about") rather than "inventing".

 

Ike created the Interstate Highway system, he didn't invent it. JFK created NASA, he didn't invent the space program. It's not the soundbite Rush wants you to come away with, so Gore claims he "invented" the Internet.

[Crap Throwing Monkey]

The words "create" and "invent" have distinctly different meanings — the former is used in the sense of "to bring about" or "to bring into existence" while the latter is generally used to signify the first instance of someone's thinking up or implementing an idea.

 

In this sense, creating = fostering ("to bring about") rather than "inventing".

 

Ike created the Interstate Highway system, he didn't invent it. JFK created NASA, he didn't invent the space program. It's not the soundbite Rush wants you to come away with, so Gore claims he "invented" the Internet.

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Personally, I don't consider Ike, Jack, or Gore to have created anything. Particularly Gore...if he created anything, it was the legislation and policies that allowed a bunch of DARPA and DoD technology to be used in the public domain.

 

And just as there's a difference between inventing and creating, there's an even larger difference between creating a technical infrastructure, and creating policy. No matter how thin you slice it, Gore's statement is still baloney.

[Terry Tate]

"Other suggested responsibilities for this new organization include Internet surveillance, "consumer protection," and perhaps even the power to tax domain names to pay for "universal access."

Can't imagine why the UN would want to seize control of domain registration.

[The Avenger]

Personally, I don't consider Ike, Jack, or Gore to have created anything.  Particularly Gore...if he created anything, it was the legislation and policies that allowed a bunch of DARPA and DoD technology to be used in the public domain.

 

And just as there's a difference between inventing and creating, there's an even larger difference between creating a technical infrastructure, and creating policy.  No matter how thin you slice it, Gore's statement is still baloney.

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Everyone is entitled to believe what they want about how much Al Gore contributed to the creation of the Internet through policy initiatives and votes he had throughout his career.

 

I personally think his statement was incredibly self-serving and made it sound like, but for his contribution, the Internet might still be the military ARPANet from which it evolved.

 

I do take issue with those who attack him for claiming to "invent" the Internet - it never happened and people are too damn ignorant to believe anything other than what has been parroted by people like Rush who twisted Gore's words. Attack Gore for his contributions (or lack thereof), but not for saying something he never said.

[Alaska Darin]

The words "create" and "invent" have distinctly different meanings — the former is used in the sense of "to bring about" or "to bring into existence" while the latter is generally used to signify the first instance of someone's thinking up or implementing an idea.

 

In this sense, creating = fostering ("to bring about") rather than "inventing".

 

Ike created the Interstate Highway system, he didn't invent it. JFK created NASA, he didn't invent the space program. It's not the soundbite Rush wants you to come away with, so Gore claims he "invented" the Internet.

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Nice post, Tipper.

[The Avenger]

Nice post, Tipper. 

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Is somebody sore that I can make the distiction between what Al Gore really said and what people think he said because it was repeated a million times by the right?

 

Hey - hate Gore if you want - that's your choice. All I'm saying is that you should criticize him for something real and not because he said something he never said (sorry if that robs you of a good punch line).

[Alaska Darin]

Is somebody sore that I can make the distiction between what Al Gore really said and what people think he said because it was repeated a million times by the right?

 

Hey - hate Gore if you want - that's your choice. All I'm saying is that you should criticize him for something real and not because he said something he never said (sorry if that robs you of a good punch line).

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Sore? No Mrs. Cleaver, I'm not at all sore. Golly, I'm in a pretty good mood since I had a malt at the soda fountain.

 

Oh, I've criticized him plenty for all sorts of valid reasons (the search feature works). Your defense of his semantics is nearly as silly as those who you're currently arguing with. Of course, politicians really hope that the populous continues wasting time on such endeavors, so they won't realize how hard they're actually getting screwed by idiots like Al Gore.

[erynthered]

Is somebody sore that I can make the distiction between what Al Gore really said and what people think he said because it was repeated a million times by the right?

 

 

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Oh, please. How long did you have to play that with people that really matter, give me a break. Feel better? Your defense of Al is, well, silly. Buy a clock.

[The Avenger]

Oh, please. How long did you have to play that with people that really matter, give me a break. Feel better? Your defense of Al is, well, silly.  Buy a clock.

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I wouldn't say I'm defending Al Gore unless you consider trying to set the record straight on what he did and didn't say is defending him.

 

What I am trying to show is that for every blowhard who likes to make a joke out of Al Gore "inventing" the Internet there is a person who either doesn't bother to get his facts straight or doesn't care. It's easy to make the other side look like a bunch of idiots when you make up your own facts and spread them around as the truth.

 

Like I said, hate Gore if you want - but have a better reason than saying you think he's an idiot because he claims he "invented" the Internet.

[Terry Tate]

Like I said, hate Gore if you want - but have a better reason than saying you think he's an idiot because he claims he "invented" the Internet.

July 8, 1947: Witnesses claim a spaceship with five aliens aboard crashed on a sheep-and-cattle ranch outside Roswell, an incident they say has been covered up by the military.

 

March 31, 1948: Al Gore was born. Nine months later.

[Terry Tate]

In a related story, U.N. bureaucrats and ministers from many less-developed nations claim the U.S. government has undue influence over how things run in the world economy, and have announced they want control of the US economy and military turned over to the UN.

[erynthered]

I wouldn't say I'm defending Al Gore unless you consider trying to set the record straight on what he did and didn't say is defending him.

 

What I am trying to show is that for every blowhard who likes to make a joke out of Al Gore "inventing" the Internet there is a person who either doesn't bother to get his facts straight or doesn't care. It's easy to make the other side look like a bunch of idiots when you make up your own facts and spread them around as the truth.

 

Like I said, hate Gore if you want - but have a better reason than saying you think he's an idiot because he claims he "invented" the Internet.

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Ok, here's the funny part. He'll be known for that regardless of what you say, here, on a Bill's message board. So, relax. History, will show that Al had a Lock box, with the internet secured, for the democratic party.

 

For an Avenger, you're a little late, Al could have used your help.

[Chilly]

Ok, here's the funny part. He'll be known for that regardless of what you say, here, on a Bill's message board. So, relax. History, will show that Al had a Lock box, with the internet secured, for the democratic party.

 

For an Avenger, you're a little late, Al could have used your help.

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I aboslutely hate statements like this. Erynthered, I don't mean to single you out, as I've done it myself and realized its retarded.

 

If everyone's goal was to chang something, they obviously wouldn't be posting ont his damn board. We're all advocates here, and nothing we do will change anything.

 

</drunken rant off>

[Wacka]

July 8, 1947: Witnesses claim a spaceship with five aliens aboard crashed on a sheep-and-cattle ranch outside Roswell, an incident they say has been covered up by the military.

 

March 31, 1948: Al Gore was born. Nine months later.

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That really explains a lot!

[/dev/null]

July 8, 1947: Witnesses claim a spaceship with five aliens aboard crashed on a sheep-and-cattle ranch outside Roswell, an incident they say has been covered up by the military.

 

March 31, 1948: Al Gore was born. Nine months later.

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my mom was born in March of 48

 

the time differece between roswell and her birthday has been a running joke between us for a while

 

but anyway, this thread kinda strayed into OwlGore bashing. To get back on topic...

UN control of the Internet = RJ