November 7, 2012
Internet censorship via a United Nations initiative could be a very real possibility for citizens in the United States, depending on the outcome of talks scheduled to take place next month at a conference in Dubai.
At the upcoming World Conference on International Telecommunications, U.N. members could potentially advocate controls that would censor free speech, levy tariffs on e-commerce, and even force companies to clean up their “e-waste” and make gadgets that are better for the environment.
U.S. officials say that the Nation is against the U.N. proposals because management of the Internet by one central organization goes against free speech.
“[Doing nothing] would not be a terrible outcome at all,” Terry Kramer, the chief U.S. envoy to the conference, said in an interview with FOX. “We need to avoid suffocating the Internet space through well-meaning but overly prescriptive proposals that would seek to control content.”
An event is planned for Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. at the W Hotel in Washington, D.C., by a group of Internet freedom advocates who will preview what the U.N. agenda will likely be next month in Dubai.