Who Controls the Internet?
Interesting article in Today's UK Guardian Newspaper. Ahead of a [1]Google+ Hangout on the [2]battle for the internet, Jemima Kiss looks at how tech giants are fighting for supremacy Have you ever noticed that wherever you are in the world, every telephone keypad looks the same? Or wondered why satellites don't crash into each other? Or why you dial 64 to reach New Zealand, but 65 for Singapore? These are some of the mundane but essential logistical achievements of the [3]International Telecommunication Union, a specialist UN agency that dates back to 1865. Yet as it gears up for its first global conference in 14 years, the ITU has found itself under unprecedented attack. The first assailant is the powerful US technology lobby. Companies, including Google, are claiming that new ITU proposals would mean [4]internet companies paying hefty fees to local telecoms companies, reigniting historic tensions between US internet giants and incumbent telecoms firms across the world. But that's not the only battle that will be played out this December when the ITU's 193 member states gather in Dubai. Russia and China have been explicit in their goal of taking control of the internet away from the US, while developing countries feel the western technology hegemony is limiting their economic opportunities. With the world's internet population predicted to reach 3.4 billion by 2016, there is everything to play for. [5]http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/oct/17/who-rules-internet References 1. https://plus.google.com/events/ccctkbj9ldslvsm392t6mae48ac 2. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/series/battle-for-the-internet 3. http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.itu.int%2Fen%2FPages%2Fdefault.aspx&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGkPS1MSVqJVle3MAJ6siz-iQ55Bw 4. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/internet 5. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/oct/17/who-rules-internet
Waudo Thanks for the article. And keeping the discussion alive. Dr. Ndemo, IGF Kenya and CCK, I'm beginning to sound like a bull-dog with a bone in its jaw refusing to let go...but it's critical that the country knows our country position on the ITRs. December isn't very far. Thanks Ali Hussein CEO | 3mice interactive media Ltd Principal | Telemedia Africa Ltd +254 773/713 601113 Sent from my iPad On Oct 17, 2012, at 10:16 PM, waudo siganga <emailsignet@mailcan.com> wrote:
Interesting article in Today's UK Guardian Newspaper.
Ahead of a Google+ Hangout on the battle for the internet, Jemima Kiss looks at how tech giants are fighting for supremacy
Have you ever noticed that wherever you are in the world, every telephone keypad looks the same? Or wondered why satellites don't crash into each other? Or why you dial 64 to reach New Zealand, but 65 for Singapore? These are some of the mundane but essential logistical achievements of the International Telecommunication Union, a specialist UN agency that dates back to 1865.
Yet as it gears up for its first global conference in 14 years, the ITU has found itself under unprecedented attack. The first assailant is the powerful US technology lobby. Companies, including Google, are claiming that new ITU proposals would mean internet companies paying hefty fees to local telecoms companies, reigniting historic tensions between US internet giants and incumbent telecoms firms across the world.
But that's not the only battle that will be played out this December when the ITU's 193 member states gather in Dubai. Russia and China have been explicit in their goal of taking control of the internet away from the US, while developing countries feel the western technology hegemony is limiting their economic opportunities. With the world's internet population predicted to reach 3.4 billion by 2016, there is everything to play for. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/oct/17/who-rules-internet
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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
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In law there is something called "adverse possession" which means that if I am in possession of a property (land, building or daughter) for a period of 12 years or more without paying rent then the property becomes mine. The Kenya Railways lost the Railway Golf Club after the club claimed adverse possession, KANU tried the same with KICC but their efforts where thwarted by a vigilant new government. When I was in school, yes I did go to school, there was an unwritten rule "finders keepers losers weepers", we seem to be applying all this rules in trying to wrestle away the Internet from its real owners the USA, the ITU meeting shall be the battle ground and bloody it will be worse than Muoroto or Syokimau evictions. If Google, Facebook, Amazon, eBay, LinkedIn, Yahoo and their elk (note all are US based companies) decided to block all IP addresses beginning with "41" will we still be able to say that we have Internet access? From Waudo's post it is clear where we fall, as the so called developing countries, at the periphery of the battle field literally outside the stadium hanging from a shaky tree branch. The so called "tech giants" will arrive fully armed, the Chinese will bring their numbers and the Russians their nuclear, gas and diamond might, how will we arrive? Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 ________________________________ From: waudo siganga <emailsignet@mailcan.com> To: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Wednesday, 17 October 2012, 22:16 Subject: [kictanet] Who Controls the Internet? Interesting article in Today's UK Guardian Newspaper. Ahead of a Google+ Hangout on the battle for the internet, Jemima Kiss looks at how tech giants are fighting for supremacy Have you ever noticed that wherever you are in the world, every telephone keypad looks the same? Or wondered why satellites don't crash into each other? Or why you dial 64 to reach New Zealand, but 65 for Singapore? These are some of the mundane but essential logistical achievements of the International Telecommunication Union, a specialist UN agency that dates back to 1865. Yet as it gears up for its first global conference in 14 years, the ITU has found itself under unprecedented attack. The first assailant is the powerful US technology lobby. Companies, including Google, are claiming that new ITU proposals would mean internet companies paying hefty fees to local telecoms companies, reigniting historic tensions between US internet giants and incumbent telecoms firms across the world. But that's not the only battle that will be played out this December when the ITU's 193 member states gather in Dubai. Russia and China have been explicit in their goal of taking control of the internet away from the US, while developing countries feel the western technology hegemony is limiting their economic opportunities. With the world's internet population predicted to reach 3.4 billion by 2016, there is everything to play for.http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/oct/17/who-rules-internet _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.... The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
Listers, On Thu, Oct 18, 2012 at 1:29 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
When I was in school, yes I did go to school, there was an unwritten rule "finders keepers losers weepers", we seem to be applying all this rules in trying to wrestle away the Internet from its real owners the USA
There are no "real owners" of the Internet. it's a de-centralised network of networks, all communicating using TCP/IP. , the ITU
meeting shall be the battle ground and bloody it will be worse than Muoroto or Syokimau evictions.
Hardly, it's a 10 day conference, which is a very short window in which to come to agreements. In addition, it's a treaty conference in which nation states can "opt-out" of provisions they don't agree with.
If Google, Facebook, Amazon, eBay, LinkedIn, Yahoo and their elk (note all are US based companies) decided to block all IP addresses beginning with "41" will we still be able to say that we have Internet access?
yes, but the likelihood of this happening is near as zero as it can possibly be.
From Waudo's post it is clear where we fall, as the so called developing countries, at the periphery of the battle field literally outside the stadium hanging from a shaky tree branch. The so called "tech giants" will arrive fully armed, the Chinese will bring their numbers and the Russians their nuclear, gas and diamond might, how will we arrive?
It's a one-nation one vote kind of thing, so the KE vote is equal to the US vote. -- Cheers, McTim "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A route indicates how we get there." Jon Postel
@McTim: I beg to differ on your first point. Ten out of thirteen of the Internet's root servers reside within the United States. If there's a global issue & some countries differ with it on it's stand / viewpoint, what would the U.S. from blocking traffic to those countries' websites? Sent on the run, Please excuse errors & ommissions! On Oct 18, 2012 3:23 PM, "McTim" <dogwallah@gmail.com> wrote:
Listers,
On Thu, Oct 18, 2012 at 1:29 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
When I was in school, yes I did go to school, there was an unwritten rule "finders keepers losers weepers", we seem to be applying all this rules
in
trying to wrestle away the Internet from its real owners the USA
There are no "real owners" of the Internet. it's a de-centralised network of networks, all communicating using TCP/IP.
, the ITU
meeting shall be the battle ground and bloody it will be worse than Muoroto or Syokimau evictions.
Hardly, it's a 10 day conference, which is a very short window in which to come to agreements.
In addition, it's a treaty conference in which nation states can "opt-out" of provisions they don't agree with.
If Google, Facebook, Amazon, eBay, LinkedIn, Yahoo and their elk (note
all
are US based companies) decided to block all IP addresses beginning with "41" will we still be able to say that we have Internet access?
yes, but the likelihood of this happening is near as zero as it can possibly be.
From Waudo's post it is clear where we fall, as the so called developing countries, at the periphery of the battle field literally outside the stadium hanging from a shaky tree branch. The so called "tech giants"
will
arrive fully armed, the Chinese will bring their numbers and the Russians their nuclear, gas and diamond might, how will we arrive?
It's a one-nation one vote kind of thing, so the KE vote is equal to the US vote.
-- Cheers,
McTim "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A route indicates how we get there." Jon Postel
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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
@Bullut, I thought the design of anycast made sure that no single country has a switch to the internet? On 21 October 2012 18:39, Michael Bullut <main@kipsang.com> wrote:
@McTim:
I beg to differ on your first point. Ten out of thirteen of the Internet's root servers reside within the United States. If there's a global issue & some countries differ with it on it's stand / viewpoint, what would the U.S. from blocking traffic to those countries' websites?
Sent on the run, Please excuse errors & ommissions! On Oct 18, 2012 3:23 PM, "McTim" <dogwallah@gmail.com> wrote:
Listers,
On Thu, Oct 18, 2012 at 1:29 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
When I was in school, yes I did go to school, there was an unwritten
rule
"finders keepers losers weepers", we seem to be applying all this rules in trying to wrestle away the Internet from its real owners the USA
There are no "real owners" of the Internet. it's a de-centralised network of networks, all communicating using TCP/IP.
, the ITU
meeting shall be the battle ground and bloody it will be worse than Muoroto or Syokimau evictions.
Hardly, it's a 10 day conference, which is a very short window in which to come to agreements.
In addition, it's a treaty conference in which nation states can "opt-out" of provisions they don't agree with.
If Google, Facebook, Amazon, eBay, LinkedIn, Yahoo and their elk (note
all
are US based companies) decided to block all IP addresses beginning with "41" will we still be able to say that we have Internet access?
yes, but the likelihood of this happening is near as zero as it can possibly be.
From Waudo's post it is clear where we fall, as the so called developing countries, at the periphery of the battle field literally outside the stadium hanging from a shaky tree branch. The so called "tech giants"
will
arrive fully armed, the Chinese will bring their numbers and the Russians their nuclear, gas and diamond might, how will we arrive?
It's a one-nation one vote kind of thing, so the KE vote is equal to the US vote.
-- Cheers,
McTim "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A route indicates how we get there." Jon Postel
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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
-- ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva For Business Development Transworld Computer Channels Cel: 0722402248 twitter.com/lordmwesh www.transworldAfrica.com | Fluent in computing kenya.or.ke | The Kenya we know
On Sun, Oct 21, 2012 at 11:39 AM, Michael Bullut <main@kipsang.com> wrote:
@McTim:
I beg to differ on your first point. Ten out of thirteen of the Internet's root servers reside within the United States.
yes, and several of these orgs are US gov bodies (NASA and the U.S. Army). As Kivuva mentioned, Anycast let's root-ops run servers in multiple locations, including 2 at KIXP.
If there's a global issue & some countries differ with it on it's stand / viewpoint, what would the U.S. from blocking traffic to those countries' websites?
Well, first of all, the US gov CANNOT change the rootzone file. They can give final approval to changes as per the existing agreement. What they actually do is check to see that processes have been followed, they DO NOT edit the rootzone file itself, nor can they. Second, what is in the rootzone DOES NOT determine traffic flows to individual websites. The rootzone is a list of TLDs and associated name server addresses for those TLDs. In other words, the US CANNOT block traffic to/from websites, you have been misled I am afraid. -- Cheers, McTim "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A route indicates how we get there." Jon Postel
@ Kivuva & McTimm - I appreciate the correction... :-) Sent on the run, Please excuse errors & ommissions! On Oct 22, 2012 8:48 PM, "McTim" <dogwallah@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, Oct 21, 2012 at 11:39 AM, Michael Bullut <main@kipsang.com> wrote:
@McTim:
I beg to differ on your first point. Ten out of thirteen of the Internet's root servers reside within the United States.
yes, and several of these orgs are US gov bodies (NASA and the U.S. Army). As Kivuva mentioned, Anycast let's root-ops run servers in multiple locations, including 2 at KIXP.
If there's a global issue & some countries differ with it on it's stand / viewpoint, what would the U.S. from blocking traffic to those countries' websites?
Well, first of all, the US gov CANNOT change the rootzone file. They can give final approval to changes as per the existing agreement.
What they actually do is check to see that processes have been followed, they DO NOT edit the rootzone file itself, nor can they.
Second, what is in the rootzone DOES NOT determine traffic flows to individual websites. The rootzone is a list of TLDs and associated name server addresses for those TLDs.
In other words, the US CANNOT block traffic to/from websites, you have been misled I am afraid.
-- Cheers,
McTim "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A route indicates how we get there." Jon Postel
participants (6)
-
Ali Hussein -
Kivuva -
McTim -
Michael Bullut -
robert yawe -
waudo siganga