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Chris Stirewalt and FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell discuss the possibility that the UN could end up controlling the internet
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Cutting -- users from Internet access regardless of the justification provided including on the grounds of violating intellectual property rights laws to be just.
Proportionate and thus a violation of article nineteen.
Paragraph three of the international covenant on civil and political rights that was a June 2011 -- UN report declaring Internet access a human right.
And I bet you feel that way Internet that you are a human right and everybody ought to be able to -- you.
All the time so what's the problem with the United Nations as saying that -- should be able to get on the Internet.
We love the Internet right well.
FCC commissioner Robert McDowell is back with us just returned from Spain -- where he's been talking about this very subject in the United Nations.
And Fred -- Fred Barnes as.
Gamely agreed to stay with us as we try to sort out matters way beyond that the can of a couple of political hacks so.
Tell us what's going on commissioner.
So.
We're in the midst of a treaty renegotiation process.
The last treaty was negotiated in 1988 and that sort of insulated the Internet from -- regulation.
Liberal lies in the classical liberal sense.
Telecoms regulation throughout the world.
And really set up -- for the past.
The course of history.
That allow the Internet works the way it has been an unregulated way and so this was before there was an Internet.
Really really -- essentially back in 88 -- computer to computer -- good conversations machine to machine.
And that later became the Internet -- So what we now have is a series of meetings throughout the globe between now and December.
In December these meetings will culminate in a big treating renegotiation in Dubai.
And you'll have all 193 countries represented -- -- the International Telecommunication Union.
Basically arm of the UNC -- retracting its treaty and you've had folks like Vladimir Putin come out and say.
Quote.
We should have -- actual control of the Internet through the right to you and quote and I.
Take him seriously -- well he.
There's you better take him seriously just 166%.
Of the voters something in Russia Paul legitimately method there was anything wrong with any event not not that many of them was -- anyway questionable.
In case of the and KVD's -- but anyway.
So Fred this is an issue that as.
Sort of across political lines -- a little to a certain extent because the Internet has become the mother's milk.
Of American politics on both sides are in free expression and while many liberals say that it's important have -- and protect access for people in places like.
Oh I don't know Syria.
That there is some concern that -- the unity Internet its regulator is this it is this a legitimate political pop up.
Well I think so when and it.
In the united coming my view is anything that -- -- the United Nations gets into.
Is something they probably shouldn't and even if they do will not do well I mean although I I remember back some years ago when I was growing up and we used to celebrate UN today.
In American schools one worldview we haven't done that in a long time but that.
I don't -- commissioner McDowell listen and what will that you went get out of this.
Well I think we'll look for proposals that seem innocuous and small -- for so.
There's going to be a big line crossed and that will be -- the UN not regulating the Internet to it.
Having jurisdiction over the Internet.
But for many.
Beneficent reasons.
That will be advertised.
Now what a lot of foreign phone companies -- want to do is to charge web sites money for the traffic that's downloaded on those networks.
That'll really as to what raising taxes actually -- decrease the river that -- to them because a lot of big web sites program -- -- Google or FaceBook reporter.
We'll just pull out of -- country.
But that would just be the first stage of an incremental so is this like absurd and -- -- like and international version of net neutrality basically the discussion that we've had here.
Where you're talking about how to regulate the commercial slow but it actually could have an effect could impinge on.
Do the freedoms of the Internet.
It's actually even bigger than that because first of all it would be the IQ disarm the UN and -- could -- cyber security and privacy indicated involved regulating engineering standards that are now done by nongovernmental groups of engineers yeah.
International bureaucrat what's the what's the right -- status quo or what what what what should the solution that was actually status quotes from the -- -- the multi stakeholder process of nongovernmental groups getting together to figure out the Internet works and keeping it robust.
Now if we need to expand that umbrella to include the -- you to give them advisory role along with all the other stakeholders.
That's fine proposed that -- -- profitable to -- a couple weeks ago.
But you do not want an international regulatory overlay that would be devastating to free trade and free expression throughout the he wants that other than -- And -- -- other country once you're there -- could be up to ninety countries by some accounts.
And I've been talked a lot of inaugural groups like the Internet society that's.
Do these things so certainly Russia and China are -- into the especially in cyber security.
And you know one of the motivations I've heard some explained to me is that for cyber security.
They wanna have international treaty through the -- of the US lose by one standard and A -- the tree just -- -- we saw with the start to treat as we've we've we've seen we've seen that.
Movie on other things.
Charles Reece says Internet access is not a human right it is a privilege just like most things are in this world only a socialist come up.
With something so absurd.
And Bobby Hawkins makes a good point.
That freedom is so important to the Internet because it's been -- leveling effect and he says it needs to be kept that way so the little guy.
Can compete.
How likely the I read it and read an article today basically the Obama administration -- the Commerce Department who -- win.
This notion and in -- way -- -- You wore a Wall Street Journal op Ed and say oh this is not an area of concern this is not a big deal we can handle this what -- what are your answers to those when I think some of the.
The diplomat -- State Department -- -- state department of let's have to say something's publicly that yes it privately so there's public diplomacy in private diplomacy I think that's a lot of what you're seeing right now.
Think there's a great deal of concern you know the Obama administration.
And I -- -- on the same page here.
I would do wish they would appoint the head of delegation from this treaty which they haven't done yet but.
The first being run by -- -- infield Revere our roving ambassador for telecoms who is an old friend and I have a tremendous lot of respect for him.
And I think he's -- very confident.
But I want to make sure that's not just our government -- governments throughout the world as well as industry really understand the severity of this effort this time.
Is unlike any of the time -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
