Free speech is under attack, but the decentralised internet – not run by anyone – makes it difficult for governments to control speech. But a number of governments are working behind the scenes to bring in new regulations that would make the United Nations’ ITU have ultimate control over the internet, including the ability to shut it down.
The International Telecommunications Union was formerly the International Telegraphic Union. Its mandate expired with the demise of the telegraph, but like most international organisations it refused to die. Now it is run by a host of hostile anti-democratic governments who would like nothing better than controlling the internet in western countries.
There seems to be a significant risk of the proposals also leading to a massive increase in the cost of internet services. This from an organisation who motto is:
Committed to connecting the world.
Apparently the ITU’s secretary-general, Hamadoun Toure, has said that only the UN can create an accessible, globally connected world! What rubbish. The ITU has had nothing at all to do with the creation, development and spread of the internet. If we relied on the ITU, we’d still be using the telegram and telephones would be analogue and connected by human operators.
It is time for the western countries who love liberty and free speech to work for the abolition of the ITU. It is not needed and is a significant threat to free speech and liberty. It has no role and worse is likely to increase the cost of communications.
This is an organisation that is run by the African mafia of kleptocratic countries who would like nothing better than to clip the ticket on communications charges. This threatens to deny poor people in developing countries access to the internet, cheap communications and hence impede their education and development. Presently they can enjoy free lectures from MIT, Stanford etc but under Toure’s leadership, they will be priced out the market and only the wealthy people like him will enjoy internet services.
From the Estonian President’s speech to Freedom House:
One of the endearing features of the ITU is its lack of transparency. Access to any of the documents relating to ITU deliberations is restricted to ITU members.
Never trust any organization run by a ‘plenipotentiary committee’.
Couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately most people do not understand this latest attempt at undemocratic dictatorship by the UN.
And don’t stop there.
UNESCO, IPCC, IMF, IBRD, then almost every subsidiary organisation (with some possible exceptions) and finally the UN itself.