Fight for control of the Net erupts at U.N.

Reuters ^ | 5 Dec 2003 | Bernhard Warner

[tubebender]

...what is best way to manage what has become a natural resource for all of humanity...

You didn't give Jimma Carter credit for that quote...

[Timesink]

All actions of this conference can be safely ignored. The UN has zero authority over the Internet and never will no matter how hard they try. If they attempt something, hackers will be able to route around it within days at the worst, and often within HOURS. As an example, there are already a number of "alternative" web domain services out there, and they've existed for years. Anyone can join in on them just by dropping a couple of extra IP addresses into your own PC's DNS server settings. (If you don't know what this means, trust me when I say that even the most inexperienced computer user can make the necessary change in about 90 seconds.) So even if the UN or some other freakish governmental organization were to find a way take over the big domains like .com, .net, etc, we could all bypass them with practically zero effort.

And no matter what other evil scheme they could dream up, we could find a way to bypass it, assuming they ever found a way to "obtain power" in the first place, which is pretty much impossible in itself.

The Internet is not a physical object; it is nothing more than an agglomeration of individual computers joined together BY CHOICE. And if I don't like what my ISP is doing, I can disconnect the cable modem right now, call you up on the phone and work out a way to connect our computers directly. Then we could add our friends to our little connection, and grow our own mini-internet from there, completely separate from the Big Evil UNternet.

Like everything else the UN does, it's all talk, no action. Let 'em whine.

[Nebr FAL owner]

Sure did the Defense
Advanced
Research
Projects
Agency
or DARPA for short

[singsong]

While ICANN's oversight has been confined to the decidedly technical matters... the group has been criticised roundly for adopting a pro-business approach that neglects the developing world.

Every country manages its own domain - developing or not. If there is neglect somewhere, it is internal to that country. Reuters is as obtuse as ever on the specific issues under dispute. I assume, someone is asking for subsidies and ability to block traffic. I would say - block this!

[jonatron]

Let's see any of those 3rd-world morons invent something besides new diseases,

F |_| C K the UN !

[beckett]

Good post. "Natural" resource indeed.

[sauropod]

FCUK China and Cuba!

Long live FReedom!

[NYC GOP Chick]

FCUK China and Cuba!

Yep, that's what I usually say every time I'm in the car and we see the UN from the FDR Drive. I'm all for just pushing the damn thing into the East River and waving "bye-bye" to it.

[Flash Bazbeaux]

This is confusing, but as best I can remember, the single institution which was known at various times as ARPA and DARPA changes its name three times, from ARPA to DARPA back to ARPA and then back to DARPA again. Do a google search for ARPA/DARPA and I think you will find an explanation. As for arpanet/darpanet, what ever you recall was probably correct, at the time you used it.

[Flash Bazbeaux]

It was ARPA from 1958 to 1972; DARPA from 72 to 93; ARPA again from 93 to 96; and has been DARPA since then.

[stripes1776]

This is a perfect example of the socialist paradigm under which these people operate. The internet is nothing like a natural resource, that is, it doesn't simply exist, it was built, and there were costs and issues of ownership attendent to its construction.

That quote in the article about the Internet being a natural resource was what I wanted to post about. Then I read your response. You said it all for me. Agreed.

[3catsanadog]

I thought Al Gore invented the internet!!!!!!!!

[VOA]

The UN wants to control your computer lead by China and Cuba.

Yep, the fine folks at the UN, that raided their own cafeteria like a bunch
of druken frat boys (apologies to any "Greeks" in the forum) at the first chance.

If they'll f--- up something as simple as a cafeteria, I shudder to think what these
well-dressed monsters would do to the net.

[Indie]

Our congress crooks who vote for this will be out of their crooked jobs immediately.

No they won't.
It will be renamed The Worldwide Freedom of Information Protocol, be 120,000 pages long and nobody will read it, hence no slug that votes for it will be compromised.

[mhking]

where China and Cuba will be among its strongest supporters.

Why am I not surprised?

The only upside I can see to this is that the "next" meeting after this won't be until 2005.

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[rightwingcrazy]

China et al are free to develop and deploy an independent internet infrastructure with its own protocols, hardware, software, etc. They could design it the way they like it, and control their own "natural resource" to their heart's content. Of course, the only ones using it instead of the real internet would be those who had no other choice.