SIIA Applauds House Committee Passage of Legislation Opposing U.N. Regulation of the Internet
For Immediate Release
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SIIA Applauds House Committee Passage of Legislation Opposing U.N. Regulation of the Internet
President Ken Wasch Commends House Energy & Commerce Committee for Acting to Defend Internet Freedom from Unnecessary International Govt. Control
Washington, D.C. (June 20, 2012) – Ken Wasch, president of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), issued the following statement commending the unanimous, bipartisan committee passage of a House Resolution (H. Con. Res. 127) opposing efforts to bring the Internet under unnecessary international governmental control.
"We applaud the House Energy and Commerce Committee for defending the Web from control by international bodies that could threaten today's reality of Internet freedom. Expanding U.N. control over the Internet could give undue power to governments that seek to undermine Internet freedom and international trade. We need a global Internet free from unnecessary international governmental control.
"Last year, Russia, China, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan proposed a U.N. code of conduct stating that policy authority for Internet-related public issues is the sovereign right of states. While many government agencies, especially law enforcement and national security departments, would agree that their jurisdiction extends to actions on the internet, the real worry is how governments and international agencies that are hostile to Internet freedom could interpret and apply these broad principles. The proposed code of conduct could be used to limit the ability of individuals and firms to exchange legitimate Internet traffic across borders and create significant digital trade barriers.
“All countries have benefited from the open, transparent nature of the Internet, and will continue to do so under the current multi-stakeholder approach to Internet governance."
About SIIA
The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) is the principal trade association for the software and digital content industry. SIIA provides global services in government relations, business development, corporate education and intellectual property protection to more than 500 leading software and information companies.