If You Build It, They Will Come...To Steal It

UN Demands Control of Internet, US Says "No"

Most people are aware that the Internet was developed through Department of Defense and academic projects. The United Nations wants the United States to give up control of the machines that host the bulk of the Internet, and allow the UN to assign Internet addresses as well.

From the Associated Press via Yahoo!News:

GENEVA - A senior U.S. official rejected calls on Thursday for a U.N. body to take over control of the main computers that direct traffic on the Internet, reiterating U.S. intentions to keep its historical role as the medium's principal overseer.

"We will not agree to the U.N. taking over the management of the Internet," said Ambassador David Gross, the U.S. coordinator for international communications and information policy at the State Department. "Some countries want that. We think that's unacceptable."

Absolutely unacceptable; not only is the UN a giant, incompetent bureacracy devoting much of its time to vilifying everything for which the United States stands, it is a corrupt, giant, incompetent bureacracy devoting much of its time to vilifying everything for which the United States stands.

Some countries have been frustrated that the United States and European countries that got on the Internet first gobbled up most of the available addresses required for computers to connect, leaving developing nations with a limited supply to share.

They also want greater assurance that as they come to rely on the Internet more for governmental and other services, their plans won't get derailed by some future U.S. policy.

Well, here's a thought: if you're unhappy with the way the people who invented, invested in, and built the Internet (not you Gore, you poser) run it, why not build your own? Sheesh, I thought this crap went out with the fall of the Soviet Union.

Via Riding Sun.