Push for UN "policing" the Internet

Countries such as Brazil, India, South Africa, China and Saudi Arabia like the idea of the UN policing the internet. Presumably a few other not so free countries need to be added to this list. The motives of at least some of these countries should give people pause. Particularly, the desire by certain countries to control the information that their citizens receive. In addition, whatever the original claimed motivation for the regulations, the regulations could easily change direction once the regulatory apparatus is put in place

Previously, when Hugo Chavez took broadcast licenses away from radio stations he would point out that they could still broadcast on the internet. Now where will they go?

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez defended plans for a law that would impose broadcast-type regulations on the Internet, saying Sunday that his government should protect citizens against online crimes.

Chavez's congressional allies are considering extending the "Social Responsibility Law" for broadcast media to the Internet, banning messages that "disrespect public authorities," "incite or promote hatred" or crimes, or are aimed at creating "anxiety" in the population.

Government opponents and press freedom groups have been critical of the plan, saying it is one of several measures being considered that could restrict freedoms in Venezuela.

"We aren't eliminating the Internet here ... nor censoring the Internet," Chavez said during his weekly television and radio program, "Hello, President." "What we're doing is protecting ourselves against crimes, cybercrimes, through a law." . . .

UPDATE: Now the regulation used against over the air broadcasters will be applied to the internet.

The National Assembly has approved a sweeping set of laws that impose penalties for spreading political dissent on the Internet, grant decree powers to President Hugo Chávez for 18 months and prevent legislators from breaking with his political movement. . . .

The extension of an existing broadcast law to include restrictions on Internet messages that “incite or promote disobedience of the current legal order” or “refuse the legitimately constituted authority” has elicited concerns from press freedom groups. The measure introduces fines and the suspension of services for Web sites deemed in violation.

Changes in the broadcast law also portend a showdown with Globovisión, a news network here that remains critical of the government. The government recently took a 20 percent stake in Globovisión, and the law may ease a further shift in control by requiring television station owners to be in Venezuela when reapplying for licenses. Globovisión’s owners recently went into exile in the United States. . . .

There are also the regulations that ban Venezulan groups from taking foreign donations.