Internet regulation opposed by Rubio

US Senator Marco Rubio announced to Historic City News reporters that today’s approval of a Senate Resolution, without opposition, voices the legislative body’s strong opposition to an international effort to regulate the Internet.

Senate Resolution 50 is a bipartisan resolution introduced by Rubio with Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO), calling on the U.S. government to reinforce its commitment to Internet freedom by opposing international efforts to cede greater Internet regulatory power to the International Telecommunications Union.

“I am pleased the U.S. Senate declared its unanimous opposition to international efforts to regulate the Internet,” Rubio told reporters. “Given the impact the Internet has had on commerce and the exercise of basic freedoms, we must proactively work to keep the Internet free and prevent enemies from dictating its future.”

Last year, China, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan proposed an “international code of conduct” in an attempt to justify greater government control over the Internet and standardize international rules and behavior concerning cyberspace and information.

“We cannot stand idly by as countries use the World Conference on International Telecommunications to justify censoring the Internet and blocking the free flow of information among their citizens and the rest of the world,” Rubio said.

In December, 193 countries will meet in Dubai to update the International Telecommunications Regulations. Some nations have been calling for more regulation over how the Internet operates and pushing to give the United Nations and ITU unprecedented control over Internet governance.