Talk about a disturbing headline Chinatopix.com just published a post entitled “China Launches Campaign To Control The Internet”
According to the story, China’s communist government intends to impose on the Internet the same “guiding principles” it currently uses to stifle online dissent within China.”
The decision of the U.S. to relinquish its oversight of ICANN, is seen by China as an opportunity to increase its influence over the Internet.
Political analysts said China wants a “new world order of Internet governance” based on international cooperation and away from US control and towards control by China.
“China is boosting its effort to promote what it calls a “double seven strategy” to wrest control of the Internet at the 50th global conference of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers being held in London.””
Lu Wei, chairperson of China’s State Internet Information Office, as early as ICANN’s opening ceremony made the astonishing claim that global participants have reached a general consensus over seven key issues of Internet governance raised by China.”
“These seven issues are part of China’s “double seven strategy” that is essentially a formula for complete control of the Internet by China.”
The double seven strategy consists of the “seven baselines” and the “seven consensuses” both unilaterally developed by China without consulting with other countries that are part of ICANN.
The seven baselines consist of promoting communism, promoting China’s national interests, observing Chinese laws and regulations; promoting the legitimate interests of Chinese citizens, promoting social order, morality and pushing for information authenticity.
The “seven strategy” echoes Beijing’s belief that the Internet should serve the interests of developing countries like China. It argues that the Internet should focus on protecting the legitimate rights and interests of citizens and not become a hotbed for criminal activity or terrorism.
“It seeks to make more beneficial to mankind by bringing peace and security to all countries and not be used as a “weapon” to attack others.
“Lu also said the Internet should run with civility and integrity without spreading rumors or perpetrate fraud.
“He said the Internet should pass on positive energy and carry forward the culture of mankind and aid the healthy development of minors.”
The Duo Wei Times, a Chinese-language newspaper published in the U.S., said China intends to control the Internet by pushing its “double seven strategy” and by forcing the U.S. to relinquish the final vestiges of its authority over ICANN’s functions.”
This idea of the US giving up control over the Internet and handing it over to the likes of China and Russia is off is great start.
Timing is everything and the Chinese are a smart country with leverage and money to spend. Numbers and symbols mean a lot them. I think it is actually a 777 strategy. I surprised they are not publicly stating it but they are aggressively pursuing and buying generic and premium domain names. Maybe its because they are acquiring them for cheap.
. COM grandfathered to China consumers, whoa Ike ! Go Global Reach!
Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger)
NOT while my arse points to the ground.China is already pervasive and invasive in so many things now.Forcing their views on everyone by often covert and sneaky means.I can’t even get rid of some Baidu programs that have inserted themselves into a new system I brought a couple of months ago.NO thank you.
Michael
More like 888
@Michael
Not that I want to get into numerology but the number 8 is attributable to wealth. In Unix (the Chinese prefer it) 777 grants all file access permissions to all user types. I think the Chinese want ALL ACCESS 😉
Chinese will get another hundred or three new TLDs and then will insist on one TLD one vote principle.
This is really going to encourage the US government to relinquish it’s control now isn’t it?
I’m surprised that they revealed their hand at a stage when the US still haven’t let go of the strings and can easily tighten their grip in the name of ‘freedom’. Although I’m sure I prefer the US version of freedom to the Chinese, as limited as both definitions are.
@ Michael Castello,
The Chinese Consumers insatiable desire for Western Style Capitalism will topple all barriers to acceptance. Pandoras Box has been opened and barriers are crumbling. I think they even like whiskey?
Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger)
Actually, background chatter indicates that China will support non-government controlled multi-stake holder model pretty soon, breaking off from India and Russia that keep supporting UN-style Internet control. So, this piece might be an attempt from India and/or Russia to prevent that milestone by saying that China wants government control. Or perhaps some US republican trying to poke NTIA transaction in Obama’s eye…
The Chinese government speaker at the Opening event said much the same in his talk — couching all the more controversial elements in invocations of fairness, truth, and avoiding the propaganda influences of outside parties.
It was to deflect this sort of plan that the US NTIA has asked ICANN (and not IGF or other multi-country organizations) to oversee the transition discussions.
ICANN has a very narrow mandate to manage identifier governance, not Internet governance… that’s why Fadi already mentioned Netmundial Alliance in his blog. Stay tuned.