Posted on 09/21/2016 1:31:46 PM PDT by The Westerner
For future reference, a list of congressmen or major public figures who opposed transfer of ICANN to foreign control is important. Granted that some senators are taking a stand now, for political reasons, but FReepers can put that on the list as background information. Please keep your post brief so the list can be skimmed quickly. Or separate the name and your comment with a paragraph.
Some FReepers have argued that the impending transfer on October 1, 2016 is akin to giving Communist China the Panama Canal--or worse: because they who control domain name listings, control Free Speech.
Some FReepers have argued that this is a non-issue based on their technical understanding of how the internet functions. If Free Republic owner Jim Robinson can clarify the validity if this argument, it would be helpful to those of us who don't really understand the technicalities.
My concern is that sites like this will either be taken down or fees and regulations and taxes will shutter them. The totalitarians have been searching for a way to take down Drudge, for example. Now, a United States politician will have clean hands if that happens. Very convenient. Without the internet, this year's revolutionary Presidential election would not be happening. If Americans did not have citizen journalists reporting in real time on the news or broadcasting their personal videos on Youtube, if we on Free Republic were not conversing and thinking aloud and researching, we would have no choice but a Clinton or Bush Presidency. But we have worked hard to vette our aspiring leaders, even fighting amongst ourselves about nominees. American are still free and able to speak without fear of being put in jail, for the most part...
The reason I am posting this thread is that I believe without Free Speech, America is lost. The Founders created a Bill of Rights solely as a punctuation mark to the Constitution. They desired to shout in CAPS to future Americans that these Rights are Inalienable, meaning cannot be taken away by future laws or tyrants. There is a reason the Primary or #1 Right listed is Free Speech because without Speech, all others cannot stand. I feel, like so many of us, that we are just barely holding on to Freedom. Please help us create this list for the future so we can know who understood and who was willing to fight against Obama and his cohorts plan to relieve us of the burden of Freedom. As he said to Putin, "I'll have more flexibility after the election". Who could have dreamed that his plan included ceding control of our internet?
Can’t believe I actually worked for that shitbird.
I did some more digging and found out that ICANN has tremendous legal power.
After September 30 ICANN could defer to international law rather than US law.
What happens then?
They alter their Registry Operator Code of Conduct and Obama says he has ‘no controlling legal authority’ since it’s based on treaties. So he is ‘forced’ to accomodate them with Justice Department assistance, federal compliance, etc.
This could even affect military websites under Obama’s watch and [God forbid] Hillary’s watch.
That is a real risk with the potential for multiple bad things happening.
I concede.
Still I think as long as they are on US soil they are subject to US law unless protected by a treaty that I don't think exists...yet.
Jim Robinson above said:
“Giving away control of the internet or any part of it is sheer lunacy.”
Jim knows this internet as well as any techie alive. He and his son built this magnicent in its simplicity platform when social media started on the internet. He’s dedicated his life, time, skills to saving this country from self-destruction.
If JimRob says it’s “sheer lunacy” giving it away, I trust his judgement!
Thank you Jim Robinson!
‘Still I think as long as they are on US soil they are subject to US law unless protected by a treaty that I don’t think exists...yet.’
I agree.
Hope we can keep them here somehow.
FRegards ....
Seems to me that Icann will move its offices to Europe ASAP. For the same reason that the transfer is taking place, to reduce American stature in the world
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