[diplomacy] wcit conference dubai, itu_ why failed, internet censorship, icann, dns explained «...

ITU =International Telecommunication Union.United Nations specialized agencyDeals with for information and communication technologies ICTs.HQ = Geneva, SwitzerlandMembership: Both Nations and Private Players.However ITU allows only its member nations to vote. Private organizations can participate in its proceedings by paying alarge annual fee but cannot propose amendments or vote.

Radio spectrum allocation1.Satellite Orbit Allocation2.Standards for Voice, video compression, TV signals etc. (Similar to that IUPAC chemical formulas).3.Bridge the digital divide. (internet connectivity in schools/villages of poor nations etc).4.

The current Internet, satellite, telephone, television systems run according to International Telecommunication Regulations(ITRs) made in Melbourne Conference in the late 80s.But after that, so much progress in telecom and internet.So there was need to review and update those those Regulations.Besides the World leaders were feeling thirsty for desi liquor and wanted to agonize UPSC aspirants with one more current-affairs topic, so they decided to hold a conference in Dubai, in December 2012.Official name of this conference: World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT).But this conference was a fiasco. Before going into that aspect, lets understand a side-topic

[Diplomacy] WCIT Conference Dubai, ITU: Why failed, Internet Censorsh... http://mrunal.org/2012/12/diplomacy-wcit-conference-dubai-itu-why-faile...

1 of 7 1/1/2004 4:55 AM

Before mobile phones, we had to keep telephone diary at home. E.g. U letter->UPSC->011-23385271 (or memorize thatnumber in your brain)But now thanks to mobile phones, era of telephone diaries is gone.We dont need to remember any number, just save them in your mobile for once, then just select UPSC and your mobilessoftware will automatically dial that number.Websites also work on a similar principle.Websites are hosted on servers.Each server has unique IP Address.Suppose there is some anti-China or pro-Tibet website, with its server in USA, IP address 420.420.420.420.But there are crores of websites on internet, each with such special numbers (IP Addresses.)A human user cannot remember all those numbers. So here domain name system (DNS) helps us.Suppose Domain name of that Anti-China website is i-hatechina dot com.Now, there is one ICANN organization. It maintains root-directories, similar to those telephone directories, they translateDNS into IP addressfor example i-hatechina dot com=>420.420.420.420, and send you to the correct website.

Continuing the same example, Chinese Government doesnt want people to view this i-hatechina dot comwebsite.So theyll will order China based internet service providers (ISPs) to block content.Although some Chinese people can still try access that website via proxies.Besides, if youre not in China, you can view the website anyways- from France, US, Sweden etc. anywhere in the world.Because there exists a root-directory with ICANN, and it says 420.420.420.420=i-hatechina dot comBut if Chinese Government could edit the root-directory, and remove the address 420.420.420.420=i-hatechina dot com,then no matter where you are and which proxy technique you use, you can never access that website.

But still that doesnt explain why Russia-China (and other countries) hate ICANN?

Well, ICANN is not a United Nations body.It is a non governmental Organization located in California, USA.It falls under the legal jurisdiction of USA (and not of United Nations).But if some XYZ UN agency was controlling DNS, IP Address, root-directory, and this organization has 10 nations in itsgoverning council. Russia/China can bribe or bully 6 of them and get a vote or resolution passed in their favour to editroot-directories.On the other hand, USA wants to keep Status-quo, with ICANN.Because USA can still control ICANN under national laws. Theyre passing SOPA, PIPA laws that will empower USAGovernment agencies to edit root-directories to combat piracy and enforce intellectual property rights.

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)HQ=California,USA.


2 of 7 1/1/2004 4:55 AM

Deals with Doesnot deal with

Internet Protocol (IP) address1.Domain Name System (DNS)2.Top level domains (.com, etc)3.

Internet content control1.Unsolicited commercial email(spam)

2.

Data protection, data-theft3.Financial transactions (onlinebanking, paypal etc).

4.

Now coming back to the original topic.

ITU held a conference in Dubai, to make a new global treaty on how to handle International voice, data and video traffic.

Because the delegates of U.S., UK, Australia and Canada happily consumed desi liquor but when it came to signing the treaty,they simply refused and walked out of the conference.India also refused to sign treaty, but didnt walk out of the conference, perhaps because our delegates wanted to drink morefree booze before the party was over.

United States says we cannot sign these international telecommunication regulations (ITRs) in their current form. Because offollowing reasons.

During the conference, some members (Russia,China) made proposals seeking government control over Internet naming andaddressing functions. (DNS, IP address. Already explained above.)They also want to inspect and censor incoming and outgoing Internet traffic on the premise of monitoring criminal behavior,filtering spam, or protecting national security.We (USA) believe these issues cannot be legitimately handled in this conference. ITU is a telecommunication relatedorganization, and internet governance is outside the scope and functions of this organization.

A bureaucratic body like UN or ITU cannot efficiently control Critical Internet resources.1.Governments lack the expertise to keep pace with rapid technological challenges.2.USA wants to protect freedom of speech on Internet(!)3.

The Corporate giants have spent truckload of cash in lobbying to US senators and Government to ensure that status quo ismaintained regarding Internet (California based ICANN should oversee the DNS, IP etc. And the matter should not be givento ITU or UN)

1.

Otherwise USA itself is no place for free speech! They want to arrest wikileaks founder Julian Assange. And they have alsoprohibited American banks from processing any donations made to Wikileaks. So, This is like replay of Indias dual-standardson Airport development fee (from previous GMR-Male Controversy article).

2.


3 of 7 1/1/2004 4:55 AM

Plus, USA is making Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA) which are, in broad sense, anti-free-speechlaws.

3.

Anyways, first reason = USA wants to protect freedom of speech. Moving to second reason

During the Dubai conference, some members wanted the treaty to handle matters of network security, virus, hacking etc.USA says: ITU cannot address security issues. It cannot make any practical improvements on security.

Some members wanted that ITU should have control over Spam.But USA is against this. Because spam is a form of content.When ITU starts controlling spam, later it can start controlling other contents: political, religious and cultural newsletters andmails etc. So again We (USA) want to protect the freedom of Speech.

Google company is also against ITU treaty.

At Dubai conference, The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is bringing together regulators from around theworld to re-negotiate a decades-old communications treaty.But we oppose it for following reasons:

The Internet empowers everyoneanyone can speak, create, learn and share.Today, more than two billion people are onlineabout a third of the planet.But Not all governments around the world support a free and open Internet.Russia, Iran, Cuba, China etc. block and control access to the Internet for their citizens.

Now, via ITU conference @Dubai, Some of these governments (Russia, China) are trying to use a closed-door meeting toregulate the Internet even more strictly.While delegates from those nations enjoy the voting powers but the IT Engineers, companies, and people that build and usethe web have no vote during these ITU treaty negotiations!Some proposals could allow governments to censor legitimate speech, or even allow them to cut off Internet access.So ITR= Anti-free speech.Other proposals would require YouTube, Facebook, and Skype to pay new taxes to reach people across borders. Theninternet-services could become expensive, and less people can access it. (Particularly Africa, Latin America, Asia).

To sum up, the Anti-Arguments are

ITUs treaty will lead to state censorship and regulation of the internet.1.Internet policy should not be determined by Governments but by citizens, communities, private sector and civil society.(bottom up approach rather than top-down)

2.

India has not signed the ITR in its current form, saying:

We donot want ITU to govern Internet.We donot want ITU to control traffic and content of Internet.We have only favoured the inclusion of Internet matters related to availability and security of telecom services.The new International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs) should reflect the current global realities and the dynamics ofthe Internettherefore, We want to undertake necessary consultations at home before announcing our final decision.

By the way, some websites say India signed WCIT treaty but that information is not correct.

A website named medianama incorrectly published report India has signed treaty, then many other websites copied thatarticle. So google throws up search result India signed treaty, however two days back Medianama issued apology about itsincorrect report.


4 of 7 1/1/2004 4:55 AM

ITU held WCIT-2012 conference in Dubai.1.Aim= To create a global treaty on how to handle international voice, video and data traffic.2.Result= #EPICFAIL3.Why? Because USA, Canada, India, Australia etc. refused to sign, (mainly) over disagreement on how to control internet.4.

Write a note on WCIT Conference. (10marks)1.Write essay on The New Cold War. (200marks)2.

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82 comments to [Diplomacy] WCIT Conference Dubai, ITU: Why failed, Internet Censorship, ICANN,DNS explained

Older Comments 1 2

navReply to this comment

great great great.

YashpalReply to this comment

Thanks Mrunal for another brilliant analysis. :)

CharudattReply to this comment

Mrunal sir i wanna ask , How is Internet affecting telecommunication , that Indian gov is concerned of ??? please throw some light sir..

SanchitReply to this comment

I was waiting eagerly for this aricle..Thnx for making this topic too easy.

pushkarReply to this comment

sir kidly give some light on bill for promotion .i am very confuse to understand it why its need amend and all ?


5 of 7 1/1/2004 4:55 AM

preetReply to this comment

greatit enhanced ma knowledge..2 easy 2..

BijleeReply to this comment

please summarize imp sections of India year book, only you can do it, the way you do it.

ratan kumarReply to this comment

nice article mrunal. Thank you

Bhupender SinghReply to this comment

very nicely explained..thak u sir

ashwinphulzeleReply to this comment

Great article and nice explaining. Thnx very much

nehaReply to this comment

Sir,plz do post something about post-modern history of India(post-independance era). This will b of gr8 help to me!!!

BijleeReply to this comment

1.pol sc-class 12 ncert2.India since independence-bipan chandra

neha agrawalReply to this comment

Sir,plz do post something about post-modern history of India(post-independance era).

JavedReply to this comment

Good articleand excelent explanation

neha agrawalReply to this comment

thanks!!! Bijlee

smitReply to this comment

please provide some information on RCEP and TPP.

sriReply to this comment


6 of 7 1/1/2004 4:55 AM

sir.. internet governance forum,formed in 2006,is also functioning as a discussion forum for various stake holders to express theirviews on internet governance.how far has it been successful in building consensus? thanking you..

AlagarReply to this comment

You are intelligent with a terrific sense of humour that doesnt stand out much getting twisted with the academic content yet isrefreshingly funny.

r@ptorReply to this comment

khatarnak and ultimate analysis

kbmReply to this comment

thanks mrunal for such an excellent & comprehensive analysis of ITU Can u suggest me for note preparation method of pub ad &sociology

Rohit singhalReply to this comment

thank you sir

manuReply to this comment

very simplified thanks a lot sir

vaibhavReply to this comment

u r gradually making me feel that u r my godfather for success in civil services whenever i m in problem, u r there with ursimplified explanation to help me thanx alot sir will meet u someday definitely

Older Comments 1 2


7 of 7 1/1/2004 4:55 AM

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