Will Amendments To a U.N Treaty Censor The Internet?

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It is quite often that a sensible and typical internet user can easily have a negative on-line experience by simply doing the common everyday tasks. It is possible that many of us have had this type of tainted experience and often wonder why 'things are they way they are' while checking the news, entertainment, checking in with the activities of others on some of the social-networking sites, or even looking at some videos or reviews. There has already been some activities by several individual countries attempting to grapple with their own laws with certain limitations of the Internet, that could possible lead to amendments to a telecommunications treaty leading to worldwide internet censorship.

According to the Associated Press, one of the matters that is most likely to be discussed at the The Word Conference on International Telecommunication that is to be held in Dubai, are changes to a 24 year old treaty called the International Telecommunications Regulations. Many of us have already noticed some changes from several countries regarding on-line censorship proposal from countries like Japan and the UK. Even though 190 countries are expected to attend, many have already begun to meet behind closed doors in preparation to discus changes to the treaty by switching up some of the language, and others are most adamant about leaving the current document un-touched.

“In a U.N. document with proposed amendments to the treaty that came out last month, Russia said the public should have unrestricted access to international telecommunication services, "except in cases where international telecommunication services are used for the purpose of interfering in the internal affairs or undermining the sovereignty, national security, territorial integrity and public safety of other states, or to divulge information of a sensitive nature."

Easy to see why such ramifications and changes like this could easily have detrimental consequences for those that live in counties that already use the Internet to voice opinions along with government opposition.Such actions and events would be effectively silenced.

Philp Verveer, a Deputy assistant secretary of state and U.S. coordinator for international communications and information policy had told the Associated Press:

"It is important that when we have values, as we do in the area of free speech and the free flow of information, that we do everything that we can to articulate and sustain those values."

At this time nothing will be decided until the conference later in December, and there must be a consensus agreement by all to make any amendments and that all the proposals must be agreed up to be included in the final document.

The question is not if it is possible, but likely when.

Source and Image Credit: CNET