A U.N. conference weighing possible Internet rules shifted into
high-stakes showdowns on Thursday after advancing a proposal for greater
government oversight. The proposal was a blow to U.S.-led efforts to
keep new regulations from touching the Net.
The move frames the
ideological divide at the 193-nation gathering in Dubai, which is
scheduled to wrap up Friday with its first revisions of global telecom
rules since 1988 - years before the dawn of the Internet age.
A
Western bloc led by a powerhouse U.S. delegation seeks to block any U.N.
rules on cyberspace, fearing they could squeeze Web commerce and open
the door for more restrictions and monitoring by authoritarian regimes.
A
rival group including China, Russia, Gulf Arab states and others
favors U.N. backing for stronger sway by governments over all levels of
Internet affairs.
They appeared to win a critical preliminary
battle early Thursday when the meeting's chairman declared consensus on a
proposal for a more "active" government role in Internet dealings.
There was no formal vote, but Mohammed Nasser al-Ghanim said he based
his decision on "the temperature of the room" following marathon
negotiations.
That brought an immediate backlash from the U.S. and
its backers, which questioned the procedure and vowed to keep any new
Internet rules from the final treaty by the U.N.'s International
Telecommunications Union, or ITU.
The group - formed in the 1860s
when the telegraph ushered in instant communications - has no powers to
instantly change how the Internet operates. It also cannot compel
reforms by states that already widely censor cyberspace.
But the
U.S.-led coalition at the talks argues that any U.N. codes sanctioning
greater government roles in the Net - even under the framework of state
security - could be used as justification for even more controls from
Web watchers in places such China, Iran and other nations.
The
host United Arab Emirates announced stricter Internet laws last month
that outlaw postings such as insulting rulers or calling for protests.
Nations
favoring a heavier government hand are likely emboldened by getting
their resolution adopted. However, it still needs to clear at least two
more hurdles before it can be considered for the final document and will
face strong opposition from the U.S. and others.
"It's not a
crime to talk about Internet inside the ITU," said the group's
secretary-general, Hamadoun Toure, suggesting high-level support to keep
debate going on Internet issues.
In response, the head of the
U.S. delegation, Ambassador Terry Kramer, said: "We do not believe the
focus of this conference should be on the Internet and we did not come
to this conference in anticipation of a discussion on the Internet."
A
statement from the Internet Society, an international group promoting
openness in cyberspace, called the advancement of the proposal "clearly a
disappointing development."
The U.S. team in Dubai also includes
heavy hitters from the tech world such as Microsoft Corp. and Google
Inc., which also have stood up against proposals by European telecoms
companies to charge Internet content providers for access to domestic
markets around the world.
Other issues on the table include calls
for more transparency on roaming charges by mobile phone companies,
efforts to fight Internet fraud and spam and creation of a worldwide
emergency number for mobile phones and other devices.