NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] (ITU Issues): [WCIT] The Internet Freedom Paradox
----- Forwarded message from Tony Rutkowski <trutkowski@NETMAGIC.COM> ----- Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2012 18:03:47 -0400 From: Tony Rutkowski <trutkowski@NETMAGIC.COM> Subject: [WCIT] The Internet Freedom Paradox Reply-To: Tony Rutkowski <trutkowski@NETMAGIC.COM> To: WCIT@LMLIST.STATE.GOV Organization: NetMagic Associates At today's ITAC meeting on the WCIT, it was reported that the ITU Secretary-General was unhappy, and that his unhappiness arose from negative remarks being made concerning his activities, as well as the competency and effectiveness of the ITU in expansive new areas. Such kvetching and more is not unusual for Hamadoun, who does not take well tocriticism. What was surprising, however, was the admonition that care should be taken to only express positive characterizations of Hamadoun and the organization. This seems to raise a paradox - namely that Internet Freedom is a good thing, except where it concerns views regarding the ITU's leadership and competency. One would have expected a reply by representatives of the U.S. that pointed out to Hamadoun that the concept of freedom in the U.S. extends to those who are critical of the behavior of intergovernmental organizations and their officials. In other words, to "get over it." WCIT's are a venue for considering the provisions of a treaty instrument among sovereign States. The Secretary-General here is hired help running the supporting secretariat. The ITU is simply an intergovernmental venue for activity. One of the fundamental problems is that Hamadoun has been operating far outside whatis appropriate and driving vast expansions in the organization's role. When the first Secretary-General, Louis Curchod, tried this in 1869, he was told by member States that his behavior was unacceptable, and he resigned. He eventually returned. When Hamadoun complains of criticism by U.S. citizens, he should be informed that his complaints are unacceptable. Internet Freedom begins at home. -t ----- End forwarded message ----- --Lauren-- Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com): http://www.vortex.com/lauren Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org/pfir-info Founder: - Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org - PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com/privacy-info - Data Wisdom Explorers League: http://www.dwel.org - Global Coalition for Transparent Internet Performance: http://www.gctip.org Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com Google+: http://vortex.com/g+lauren / Twitter: http://vortex.com/t-lauren Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com _______________________________________________ nnsquad mailing list http://lists.nnsquad.org/mailman/listinfo/nnsquad