State-controlled Internets?

[GwydionM]

This story has been around in a low-key way for several days, with different reports about how much or how little it matters. Now the BBC is being definite:

China had taken a significant step toward establishing a Chinese internet that could function independently from the global internet maintained by Icann and ultimately controlled by the US government...

Given its continued interest in censoring certain online content, a national root that excludes large chunks of the existing global internet may ultimately emerge as an attractive option to Chinese lawmakers.

BBC story here

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An old man who lives in the UK

 

[sggaunt]

Only to be expected. Possibly of equal interest was a piece on this mornings TV, talking why we should police 'our' [the free worlds] Internet.
So if the Chinese can do this so can other countries.


Steve: Delphi a feersum engin indeed.

 

[MasterRacker]

It's not enough for many people to simply ignore the "free speech" they don't agree with, they have try and stop it. Unfortunately it's human nature.

_____
Jeff
[small][purple]It's never too early to begin preparing for [/purple]International Talk Like a Pirate Day
"The software I buy sucks, The software I write sucks. It's time to give up and have a beer..." - Me[/small]

 

[Sympology]

An intersting article along these lines:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/03/15/internet_censorship_versus_protection/

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[pmonett]

The ICANN and Verisign affair is not making the Internet seem any more palatable by international standards.

The point is, the Internet is indeed free - and free for censoring by the parties who feel that the international US-dominated flavor is not to their liking.

Any country can block the wires at its door and do something reserved for national use. The more the US government is percieved to put its hand into the Web, the more other countries will put down their foot and start building up walls.

In the end, we all lose out.

Pascal.