Slashdot Mirror
EU Claims Internet Could Fall Apart Next Month
freaktheclown writes "The battle for the control of the Internet could hit a climax next month, with the EU saying that it could 'fall apart.' From the article: 'The European commission is warning that if a deal cannot be reached at a meeting in Tunisia next month the Internet will split apart. At issue is the role of the US government in overseeing the Internet's address structure, called the domain name system (DNS), which enables communication between the world's computers. It is managed by the California-based, not-for-profit Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) under contract to the US Department of Commerce.'"
"Let them all start their own DNS systems, breaking the Internet into segments. Let their own stupidity be their punishment. First, they will legislate that ISPs operating in their countries will no be allowed to use root DNS servers other than their own..."
My sentiments exactly. I can't wait to watch the French arguing that the entire EUinternet should be built around their language, the rest of Europe bickering about that, and the UK unable to decide if it even wants in on the whole deal.
Obviously the EU has joined the elusive Axis of Evil and we cannot tolerate nor give into the terrorist demands! The EU are hiding weapons of mass destruction in order to destroy the Internet. And all this time, I thought the real terrorists were in Iraq!
We're all hypocrites. We all have hidden parts, it's the contrast between them that make us more a hypocrite than others
Americans like yourself only care about america (though not all americans are so blind to rest of the worlds needs, like climate change).
And who are you, frickin' Mahatma Gandhi or something.
Here, let me clobber you with a cluestick: These "Americans" you speak of are self-interested. Sure.
But so are you. You think it's in YOUR best interest to 'globalize' the Internet for the same selfish reasons Americans might think otherwise.
So STFU, and stop thinking you're some kind of saint because you have views contrary to Americans'.
If you want to argue the merits of an issue, go ahead, but don't pull that crap about how "Americans are so america centric.". Everyone except saints looks out for their own interests, you included, as you are most certainly no saint.
Mod down people who tell people how to mod in their sigs
The EU can't even pass a constitution, and they think they should manage the internet. They are out of their mind if they think that the rest of the world isn't going to want to be part of the US internet at the end of the day. We still spend the most money, and provide most of the sites. When the dust settles it will look like it does now, except a few hundred sites on Frances "supa dupa" internet.
I say encourage the split, it will fail miserably, and really won't effect me or my fellow citizens at all. I don't need to read the BBC. Most Americans won't even notice, and only punish people in other countries. If Bush backs down on this he will cement his place with conservatives as one of the worst presidents in US history.
ARGHHH that line is starting to piss me off quite a bit... Thinking like that the French should have control over movies and planes and China over all guns and canons... You're a stupid little american troll, go back to your cave.
malheureusement la stupidité n'est ni curable, ni mortelle.
This would require everyone in the EU to reconfigure the nameservers to point at a different set of root servers overnight.
Yeah, because everyone in the EU has their servers configured to point at boxes in the U.S. right? Sorry, thanks for playing. Most of the actual, physical root server boxes are not in the U.S. Taking control of those boxes will redirect most eyeballs wherever the U.N. member agree upon. Laws stating that all ISPs and large businesses must show the U.N. authoritative DNS results will take care of a good chunk of the rest outside the U.S. There is no reason ISPs cannot even resolve conflicting DNS entries by providing both results, U.S. and worldwide and letting the client choose the proper address (would require some work, but is not undoable).
I might, overtime, add some additional EU nameservers if they are none disruptive but this will be a gradual process.
As a U.S. citizen who does a lot business overseas, I imagine I'd add them PDQ, and if the U.S. gov. does not like it, that is their problem. I don't expect this is exactly the route that will be taken though. I expect the U.N. to decide upon a plan, and give plenty of warning before they set up a functional root DNS alternative and I expect to have plenty of time to prepare for it properly.
I say it comes down to this. We have it now, we built it and they want it. Why in the world should we give it to them without getting something in return. These are nations of people who can't even say kind words about us often. I say forget it. If we are going to give up control of the root DNS servers I want something for it. Something big. I think we should sell them control. The UN can have it for a 400billion per year anuitiy for the next 20 years. That would be pretty fare.
Repeal the 17th Amendment TODAY! Also Please Read http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
They will enact laws requiring it.
Are you that stupid naturally, or did you have to take special classes?
Please provide one tiny shred of proof of that statement.
I don't know what "obsenity" is; maybe you meant "obscenity"? If you want to start throwing dictionaries around, then you leave yourself open for criticism.
hmmmm, yes, like spam out of third-world countries, credit card fraudsters out of Mala(i)sia... I dunno, it might do the US economy some good to have the world go play on their own.
'Sorry, your email was destined for a ICANN address but was sourced from an ICANT address. Bouncy bouncy!'
Seriously, this seems like an excellent way for the rest of the world to shoot itself right in the foot. Maybe we should just let them. Isolationism in reverse.
I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
So, why should they be willing to give up control over it?
"You Americans are so blinded by your own hype you think the entire rest of the world is some 3rd world dictatorship." (emphasis mine)
How am I supposed to respect your opinion when you so ignorantly label all Americans like this?
I suggest avoiding troll-like statements in the future because I (and hopefully others) will mod you as one regardless of how low your UID is.
he guy
the minitel was great !! i got my first e-mailbox in 1985 on it, what's about you ?
hot chat, phone directory,online train/plane booking, news.
really cool and the "computer" was free.
in 1982, it was the first internet but national only.
When Americans stop making ignorant statements, I'll stop accusing them of ignorance.
Anyway, you've broadened the intent of my statement, I mean "Americans with attitude like yours" not "All Americans".
EU is greedy enough to break the interweb if it doesn't get control of it
The EU is almost Orwellian in it's desire to dominate and control everything around it, including the citizens of its own member countries, whom it often ignores. They're emulating the U.S. government at its very worst.
Maybe they plan on taxing it or enforcing thier own freedom of speach rules on it.
That would be exactly right. The EU wants as much power as it can possibly manage to acquire, and that can only be done by taking power from someone else. If the EU ruled the internet there would be no such thing as free speech, only the common European version of "free" speech (e.g., you can talk about anything you like, so long as the government approves of it first).
Max
My god carries a hammer. Your god died nailed to a tree. Any questions?