In a world where the Internet accounts for 21% of mature economies’ GDP growth,“BRICs push for bigger say in running of Internet” (Reuters October 4, 2011), Georgina Prodhan reports,
Campaigners for a loosely regulated Internet are alarmed at the risk to Web freedom from fast-growing BRIC and other emerging economies seeking more say in how the online realm is policed.
BRIC countries are countries like (and including) Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
They fear tighter government control by authoritarian countries will strangle the liberal culture which has allowed the still-young Internet to thrive as an engine of economic growth and innovation.
China, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan last month proposed to the United Nations a global code of conduct embodying among others the principle that “policy authority for Internet-related public issues is the sovereign right of states.”
France’s president Sarkhozy has expressed interest too.
The Internet is the last appeal for any number of worthy causes, as well as unworthy ones.
See also: Don’t tell us “Oh, but that’s just China …” Listen. It’s not just China.
The criminal hyperlink and how it affects you: It may not be criminal in your part of the world to hear reasons against a state-sponsored religion elsewhere. In some places, it is, and a hyperlink could be “criminal” if your government co-operates with the agenda.
Think governments don’t want control of the Internet? Read this.
Of course they do. It’s much easier for cash-strapped and authority-challenged governments worldwide to enforce against minority opinion than against violent fanatics or career criminals. In any society, many short-sighted, well-meaning people will agree that “some kind of control is necessary,” only to say later, “We never thought they would mainly pursue opposition opinion, not violent fanatics or international criminals.”
Did you not? Did you not indeed?
If you don’t have any minority opinions at all, why are you reading Uncommon Descent? How will you account to your government for your interest?