A Chinese Perspective
by Chen Baoguo
Global Times (August 23 2010)
Global Research (August 24 2010)
US controls threaten Internet freedom
In May 2009, Microsoft announced on its website that they would turn
off the Windows Live Messenger service for Cuba, Syria, Iran, Sudan and
North Korea, in accordance with US legislation.
In January 2010, Google, the company which owns the largest Internet
information resources, declared that in order to establish a more open
Internet environment, they had to abandon the Chinese market.
What is even more worrying is that Senator Joseph Lieberman, chairman
of US Homeland Security Committee, recently presented to the US Senate a
bill titled "Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset".
To control the world by controlling the Internet has been a dominant
strategy of the US.
>From the network infrastructure protection of the Clinton era to the
network anti-terrorism of the Bush era and to the "network deterrence" of
the Obama era, the national information security strategy of the US has
evolved from a preventative strategy to a preemptive one.
Meanwhile, the methodology has moved from trying to control Internet
hardware to control of Internet content.
The ultimate goal is for the US to hold the ability to open and shut parts
of the Internet at will.
In 1993, the Clinton administration proposed to build up "the national
information infrastructure" and listed six possible enemies who might
attack US key network infrastructure, including sovereign states, economic
competitors, as well as all kinds of criminals, hackers, terrorists and
insiders. It was a defensive strategy.
After the 9/11 attacks, the Bush administration officially upgraded
Internet security to the strategic height of national security.
Anti-terrorism was the theme of Internet security during the Bush era.
In 2004, the US cut off the ".ly" domain name by using the root server,
resulting in Libya's disappearance in Internet for three days. It
generated worldwide criticism of the US hegemony on the Internet and
concerns over Internet security.
In 2009, according to the network security assessment announced by Obama,
the threat to the Internet had become one of the most serious economic and
military threats that the US was confronted with.
Obama made two important decisions.
The first was to cut conventional weapons, including the F22 fighters,
while the second was to build up network commands and substantially
increase investment in network offensive weapons.
So far the network security strategy of the Obama administration has been
"focusing on attack and assisting with deterrence".
At present, the five core areas of Internet infrastructure are monopolized
by US Information Technology ("IT") giants, including high-performance
computers, operating systems, database technologies, network switching
technologies and information resource libraries.
Across the world, around 92 percent of personal computers and eighty
percent of super computers use Intel chips, while 92 percent of personal
computers use Microsoft operating systems, and 98 percent of core server
technology lies in the hands of IBM and Hewlett-Packard.
Meanwhile, ninety percent of database software is controlled by Oracle and
Microsoft, and 94 percent of core patented network switching technology is
held by US companies.
After the control of Internet infrastructure and hardware and software
systems, the US is now turning to Internet content.
The US government has adopted macro-control and focus-funding to actively
use IT giants to create a global Internet infrastructure which could be
manipulated by the US.
The US actively promotes the participation of IT giants in Internet
content control work.
In May 2009, Microsoft announced on its website that they would turn off
the Windows Live Messenger service for Cuba, Syria, Iran, Sudan and North
Korea, in accordance with US legislation.
In January 2010, Google, the company which owns the largest Internet
information resources, declared that in order to establish a more open
Internet environment, they had to abandon the Chinese market.
What is even more worrying is that Senator Joseph Lieberman, chairman of
US Homeland Security Committee, recently presented to the US Senate a bill
titled "Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset."
Under this proposal, whenever an emergency occurs in the US, the president
could order Google, Yahoo and other search engine operators to suspend
Internet services.
And other US-based Internet service providers could also be under the
control of the president when "Internet security emergencies" occur.
If so, the US president would officially have the power to open or close
the Internet.
Although there is no international law to regulate Internet sovereignty,
the Internet is founded to benefit all mankind across the globe.
If the US, which invented and controls the Internet, cut off or shut down
the Internet in the name of national security, it would certainly neglect
and violate the interests and benefits of international netizens.
_____
The author is a researcher at the Development Research Center of the State
Council of China.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the sole
responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the
Centre for Research on Globalization. The contents of this article are of
sole responsibility of the author(s). The Centre for Research on
Globalization will not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or
incorrect statements contained in this article.
To become a Member of Global Research:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=section§ionName=membership
The CRG grants permission to cross-post original Global Research articles
on community internet sites as long as the text & title are not modified.
The source and the author's copyright must be displayed. For publication
of Global Research articles in print or other forms including commercial
internet sites, contact: crgedi...@yahoo.com
www.globalresearch.ca contains copyrighted material the use of which has
not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are
making such material available to our readers under the provisions of
"fair use" in an effort to advance a better understanding of political,
economic and social issues. The material on this site is distributed
without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving
it for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted
material for purposes other than "fair use" you must request permission
from the copyright owner.
For media inquiries: crgedi...@yahoo.com
(c) Copyright Chen Baoguo, Global Times, 2010
(c) Copyright 2005-2007 GlobalResearch.ca
http://opinion.globaltimes.cn/commentary/2010-08/566394.html
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=BAO20100824&articleId=20758
_______________________________________________
Marxism-Thaxis mailing list
Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu
To change your options or unsubscribe go to:
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis
