Google Fights UN Over New Treaty To ‘Increase Censorship’

Updated on

Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has expressed its serious concerns over an effort led by United Nations (UN) to decide the future of the ‘free and open Internet’ in a December meeting by International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a regulating body working under United Nations.

Google Fights UN Over New Treaty To 'Increase Censorship'

On its website, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) writes that, “the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is bringing together regulators from around the world to re-negotiate a decades-old communications treaty”, and that “proposed changes to the treaty could increase censorship and threaten innovation.”

Fearing that in the UN led ITU conference, Govt. representatives are going to sign on a new treaty about free communication and information, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is all set to battle the legislative changes that are likely to be brought by the behind-closed-doors ITU meeting in December.

Google has, therefore, come out swirling against the anticipated treaty in the form its Google Take Action website that asks online users to take action against the upcoming UN/ITU proposals for the future of information and communication over Internet, strongly backed by China and Russia.

Google asks its netizens to add their names to this online petition to support Google’s view. Google states on its website that,

“Some proposals could permit governments to censor legitimate speech – or even allow them to cut off internet access.

Other proposals would require services like YouTube, Facebook, and Skype to pay new tolls in order to reach people across borders. This could limit access to information – particularly in emerging markets.”

Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) believes that only government officials have any say in this regard and no other body with a stake in the online community has any voice at ITU. UN, on the other hand, claims that no change will be implemented before inviting a consensus from all members of the online community.

To this date, Google’s Take Action campaign has been the most prominent advertisement on the ITU web proposals, which has been ignored by the media and the public at large.  However, looking at the past record of Google’s battles against Internet censorship, it has led the way in recent years and is likely to win the one at hand too.

If you are against ITU/UN proposals regarding the Internet’s future, here is the link to sign a personal petition against the treaty.

Leave a Comment