UN-Dermining the Net
Crews and Thierer Letter to Forbes Magazine
There's mounting evidence that the Internet's good old days as a global
cyberzone of freedom—where governments generally take a "hands off" approach—may be numbered. [Last year] delegates from 192 countries met inGeneva
behalf of the world's poor. Also on the table at the session—the United
Nations World Summit on the Information Society—was the question of domain
name management and how much protection free speech and expression should
receive on the Net. The real issue, however, is whether a "United Nations for
the Internet" is on the way.
The great advantage of the Net is precisely the ability to reach as many people
as possible and overcome artificial restrictions on trade or communications at
traditional geographic boundaries. The Web, whatever problems it has raised,
has provided far more opportunity and freedom to mankind. The United Nations
appears eager to assume greater control over the Net, not because of its
failures, but because it undermines members' authority. That sounds like the
best reason ever to make sure a United Nations for the Internet never becomes a
reality.
cyberzone of freedom—where governments generally take a "hands off" approach—may be numbered. [Last year] delegates from 192 countries met in
behalf of the world's poor. Also on the table at the session—the United
Nations World Summit on the Information Society—was the question of domain
name management and how much protection free speech and expression should
receive on the Net. The real issue, however, is whether a "United Nations for
the Internet" is on the way.
The great advantage of the Net is precisely the ability to reach as many people
as possible and overcome artificial restrictions on trade or communications at
traditional geographic boundaries. The Web, whatever problems it has raised,
has provided far more opportunity and freedom to mankind. The United Nations
appears eager to assume greater control over the Net, not because of its
failures, but because it undermines members' authority. That sounds like the
best reason ever to make sure a United Nations for the Internet never becomes a
reality.
