The United States Has Given Up Control Of The Internet

(Two posts today. Please scroll down to the post below for a humorous graphic)



The consequences remain to be seen.

The decision was Washington-based.

From this article in the Guardian:

After complaints about American dominance of the internet and growing disquiet in some parts of the world, Washington has said it will relinquish some control over the way the network is run and allow foreign governments more of a say in the future of the system.

Icann – the official body that ultimately controls the development of the internet thanks to its oversight of web addresses such as .com, .net and .org – said today [September 30] that it was ending its agreement with the US government.

The deal, part of a contract negotiated with the US department of commerce, effectively pushes California-based Icann towards a new status as an international body with greater representation from companies and governments around the globe.

[...]

The new agreement comes into force immediately. It replaces the old version which had been in place since 1998 and was scheduled to expire today [September 30].

[...]

"We expect more active involvement from governments, a higher level of participation from many governments and we're already hearing about more governments joining the team…

Read the entire article here. The article makes the kumbaya sound attractive.

But just how will Islamic countries react to sites critical of Islam? And how much power will foreign governments have over the web?

Additional reading: this post at Atlas Shrugs in which Pamela Geller says the following:

If not America, who? The US, beacon of life, liberty, and stalwart defender of individual rights, is giving up "ownership" of the internet. The new agreement gives other countries, and the UN the ability to set internet use policies. Wee, dear friends ..... for those whose only shot of communication will be snuffed out.

It is amazing how much damage to our rights can be done in such a short period of time.

Watch for Sharia law to find its way into this.

China will say no to their dissidents.

Islam will say no and work block sites that attempt to reveal their bloody plans.

It was our extraordinary gift to the world ............... and like some depraved drunk we toss it away and relinquish control to the vultures and destroyers. We kept it free.

Read it all!

Despite its many flaws, the Internet has been a beacon of truth and of information. What if that light gets dimmed? The light will dim or possibly completely go out if the "world community" takes complete control of the web!

Also see this: "U.S. co-sponsors anti-free speech resolution at the UN."