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Imagine A UN-Run Internet

Posted by timothy on from the nightmare-material dept.

Damon Dimmick writes "Small countries in the United Nations have been arguing to put the Internet under the control of the UN so that countries can more easily monitor (read: control) Internet content. It's on hold for now, but this could become a very real censorship problem, very soon. Some nations have gone so far as to suggest "monitoring boards" for internet content. Here is the link to the Financial Times article. It briefly describes the current situation. Just something to keep an eye on."

3 of 860 comments (clear)

  1. This would be right up there by sielwolf · · Score: 4, Funny

    with their choice of putting Libya as the Human Rights chair.

    Luckily the UN is a flaccid organization with no territory or armies of its own. What would it plan to do? Begin a humanitarian mission to the Web by dropping a bunch of Kenyan and Spanish troops near all the root servers?

    Yeah right.

    --
    What is music when you despise all sound?
  2. An excellent comparison by runlvl0 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Leauge of Nations and the Catholic Church both predate the UN, and both are very arguably "supra-national" organizations

    An excellent comparison: when you get right down to it, the UN is like the Vatican, but for atheists. (With the predictble results.)

    --

    Carthago delenda est!
  3. Re:Better than a USA-run Internet... by NihilSmurf · · Score: 4, Funny

    > > Where freedom of speech applies to EVERYBODY,
    > > even the ones with unpopular causes. Hint:
    > > popular causes don't NEED freedom of speech.
    >
    > If it applies to everybody, then why would
    > there be a need for a 3-day shutdown of London
    > so that protesters don't get a chance
    > to "peacably assemble?"

    I may only have a US education, but I'm pretty sure London is in another country. It's the one with Radiohead and Boddington's.