THE INTER-NYET

Obviously, this is a rhetorical question: Does the UN think the U.S. is made up of a bunch of idiots? Of course they do, but hopefully we aren't stupid enough to relinquish control of the Internet to such a dysfunctional, bureaucratic and arguably corrupt organization. The European Union pulled a flip-flop this week on the issue of Internet governance and appears now to be siding with countries such as Brazil, China, Iran and Pakistan and other members of the UN who want to see management, policy and direction for the Eighth Wonder of the World handed over to an international government body. Call it protectionism, but the U.S. rightly dismissed that idea and should continue to do so for the foreseeable future. It can give up its bombs and weapons research perhaps, but not the Internet. Not yet. Not while the term “binding international agreement” has such little value. Not only did the U.S. create this civilization-altering technology, it allowed it to flourish in an environment that was primarily of the people for the people in a way that would have been likely in few other countries. UN oversight would further politicize the one technology that has truly stimulated the world economy. It also has opened the eyes of people worldwide to other people around the world — even more so than television, which gives people a limited and gate-kept view. The Internet, though, is an empowering, interactive technology that has the potential to truly enable social change, which begs another rhetorical question: Is that what the more repressive nations are afraid of?