UN Online freedom resolution passes despite opposition from Russia, China et al

The United Nations officially condemned the practice of countries shutting down access to the internet at a meeting of the Human Rights Council on Friday. A resolution [PDF] entitled The promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the Internet effectively extends human rights held offline to the internet. It was passed by consensus, but …

Senators Cruz, Lankford, Lee, Duffy Continue Fighting IANA Transition

Send letter to NTIA to investigate apparent violation of federal law in preparation for Internet transition   WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.), today sent a letter to National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Assistant Secretary Lawrence Strickling, questioning the agency’s apparent …

Many hurdles towards the ICANN- IANA privatization that will not happen anyway says Bekele

IANA transition despite jumping many hurdles may not be happening in the next few years, at least not before, thanks to the issue getting the attention of the U.S. Congress. In an article on the Hill, Sophia Bekele also adds that should the transition happen, it will give some governments who want more power within …

Group mentality and ICANN GAC Advice: Another case of African misdirected and treacherous destiny

. Is Africa falling to another trap of group mentality and uninformed choices? Traditionally nations and especially when taken as continents have been known to take collective decisions. Just recently in the WCIT Dubai, there was mass failure of the delegates to agree on a treaty that had been crafted to replace the existing International …

U.S. refuses to back U.N. treaty, saying it endorses restricting the Internet

“The United States has announced today that it cannot sign” the treaty’s provisions “in their current form,” said Terry Kramer, the U.S. ambassador to the World Conference on International Telecommunications, on Thursday as the 12-day conference draws to a close this week. Representatives of several other of the world’s largest economies also spoke out against …

A NEW SEASON OF COOPERATION BETWEEN ICANN AND ITU

The World Conference on International Telecommunications (#WCIT-12) currently taking place in Dubai is now in full swing. A number of high ranking officials and dignitaries are in attendance at the conference, including Mohamed Nasser Al-Ghanim, Director-General of the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and Chairman of the Conference; Fadi Chehadé, President and CEO of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and …