Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Blur
 Arguing that America is entitled in whole to the internet is like saying that only America should have electricity. Just because an individual or group of individuals in one country invents something does not mean that the greater human significance of that something falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of that country. The internet is a source of data, and that data, be it in the form of images, videos, text, or code, belongs to the world. People in the United States ultimately developed a platform for that data to be stored and shared far beyond the source of that data; however, contributions to the internet come from all over the world. There is no reason that the world's contributors should have as little a role as they've had in it. The United States does not represent the world. There is no good reason that the internet has remained so ethnocentric for so long.
By the way, we should all evaluate the sources of our information. |
I didn't even read the article nor do I know who the 'source' is but I am extremely familiar with the topic and the technical and political issues at play.
This is all about ICANN. It's not about the data that's on the internet, it's about access (particularly ease of access) to that data. ICANN does things like issue domain name (through registrars). They also control the world's IP addresses (which we're rapidly running out of, IPv4 at least). They also control the world's ROOT DNS server (sortof... they're actually run by the various institutions that house them). There is no, and will continue to not be, direct control over the data that passes through the internet, only the way you access that content. The data itself is, or could be, controlled by the people that own/run the connections (telecom companies).
This push is nothing new. It's a power thing. The US has done a fine job of running it up until now, why should that change? We haven't even used it as a blockade or embargo tool against rogue nations. Entrusting it to a beurocracy like the UN is a disaster waiting to happen.
Besides, you're an Apple fan. In your mind we should just let Steve Jobs run the internet like you allow him to control your devices.