Nerd world conference spells end of the world as we know it
The Internet is such an important part of our lives that you would think attempts to change its structure would be of significance to all. But that is not the way things work. Hands up. Who's heard of WCIT-12?
The hugely important nerd World Conference on International Telecommunications is ongoing and scheduled to end on Friday. Delegates from 193 governments are in attendance and set to change the rules of Internet governance.
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The last treaty regulating international voice, data and video traffic was inked 24 years ago in Australia, when I was paying extortionate telephone charges on fixed lines.
Since then, obviously, mobile phones and the Internet have transformed into the most important tools of our daily lives, both at work and play.
Naturally, this UN-sponsored conference is a long-overdue excuse for governments to get political, an opportunity for companies to make more money and for hacktivists to register their disapproval.
Anonymous, that evolving Internet group currently outing misogynists in another campaign, has made its feelings known by hacking the conference. Minutes of the meetings are being leaked online, and it makes interesting reading.
According to the website ZDNet.com (part of CBS Corp), one "WCIT-12 leak shows Russia, China and others seek to define 'government-controlled Internet'".
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