<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" http-equiv="Content-Type">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#333333">
<br>
<br>
Adam Peake wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:p0624080ac960449f3918@%5B192.168.1.160%5D"
type="cite">This has nothing to do with Internet architecture. The
US's demands are based on Twitter being a US registered company,
nothing to do with the Internet per se.
<br>
</blockquote>
I mean the whole socio-technical architecture of the Internet. It is a
mistake, at least from its overall governance and socio-political
implications points of view, to see the Internet merely as a technical
system. My statement is in the context of the larger view of what is
Internet governance, and the Internet's socio-political architecture
and its power nodes - in the present case, the extra-ordinary control
that the US gov has over it relative to any other body.<br>
<br>
BTW, this is an interesting discussion. Defining what is the Internet,
before we define IG. A narrow definition of IG as basically dealing
with Internet's technical architecture as against a broader one
signifying a new techno-social system, is behind many a
misunderstandings and mis-communications that often arise in discussion
on this list. <br>
<br>
For instance, when I may underscore the need for new global policy
institutions that could ensure greater egalitarianism in Internet's
development in terms of its social, economic and political impact,
McTim would generally respond by exhorting us to put aside such idle
talk and come and participate in places where the 'actual IG' takes
place. <br>
<br>
Adam, I am completely in disagreement with you that this has nothing to
do with Internet per se. For me, and to most people, Internet is also
google, facebook, twitter, online forums of resistance and the such...
It is not just the IP protocol, DNS, registries and such kind of stuff.<br>
<br>
The fact that all the above mega corporates, as well as ICANN itself,
are as you say are companies registered in the US is a huge IG issue. I
dont want my personal data to be accessed by anyone without my consent.
And if exceptional conditions of possible involvement in a crime etc
are involved I would have it handled only by a body/ authority in
whose constitution I have a democratic role, which regrettably is not
the case with the US gov. <br>
<br>
Parminder <br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:p0624080ac960449f3918@%5B192.168.1.160%5D"
type="cite"><br>
FWIW (not worth much :-)) most of Twitter's Internet architecture is
run by a Japanese company, NTT.
<br>
<br>
Thanks,
<br>
<br>
Adam
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">Read below to see another instance of how
some countries are more equal than others owing to the manner in which
the global Internet architecture and its power nodes are structured
today..... It should hardly be surprising that most 'other' countries
are rather concerned about this asymmetry and concentration of global
IG power.
<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/10/3110066.htm?section=justin"><http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/10/3110066.htm?section=justin></a><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/10/3110066.htm?section=justin">http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/10/3110066.htm?section=justin</a>
<br>
<br>
US pursuit of WikiLeaks triggers diplomatic spat
<br>
By Jennifer Macey
<br>
<br>
Updated Mon Jan 10, 2011 10:43pm AEDT
<br>
<br>
The US has subpoenaed Twitter to release information from five
accounts in its investigation of WikiLeaks (AFP: Joe Raedle/Getty
Images)
<br>
<br>
AUDIO: Iceland furious over US subpoena of Twitter accounts (PM)
<br>
RELATED STORY: US orders Twitter to disclose WikiLeaks records
<br>
The Icelandic government has summoned the US ambassador to explain why
the US is seeking personal information from the Twitter account of an
Icelandic MP.
<br>
<br>
The US has subpoenaed Twitter to release information from five accounts
- including those of the MP and a Dutch computer programmer - in its
investigation of whistleblowing website WikiLeaks.
<br>
<br>
Legal experts say because Twitter is registered in the US, the company
may be obliged to hand over the information.
<br>
<br>
The American ambassador to Reykjavik, Luis Arreaga, has been summoned
for a meeting at Iceland's foreign ministry.
<br>
<br>
He has been asked to explain why US officials want the Twitter account
details of an Icelandic MP.
<br>
<br>
Iceland's interior minister, Ogmundur Jonasson, says the request is not
being taken lightly.
<br>
<br>
"It is very serious that a foreign state, the United States, demands
such personal information of an Icelandic person, an elected official,"
he said.
<br>
<br>
"This is even more serious when put into perspective and concerns
freedom of speech and people's freedom in general."
<br>
<br>
Icelandic MP Birgitta Jonsdottir is one of five Twitter accounts that
have been subpoenaed by the US Justice Department.
<br>
<br>
Although she is a former WikiLeaks collaborator, she denies she has
anything to hide.
<br>
<br>
"Not at all, that's not what this is all about. This is about a certain
principle," she said.
<br>
<br>
"Here we have a government that is demanding a privately-owned company
to give up personal data.
<br>
<br>
"I have not done anything that can be considered criminal. It's not
against the law to leak information, it's not against the law to be a
source, it's not against the law to publish this information.
<br>
<br>
"The information in question is about crimes committed by the United
States government."
<br>
<br>
Along with Ms Jonsdottir, the US Justice Department sought information
from four other Twitter accounts.
<br>
<br>
The WikiLeaks account, Dutch computer programmer Rop Gonggrijp,
American programmer Jacob Appelbaum, and the account of Private First
Class Bradley Manning, the US army intelligence analyst accused of
leaking the classified cables,
<br>
<br>
Dr Ben Saul, the director of the Sydney Centre for International Law at
Sydney University, says US officials can issue a subpoena against
non-US citizens if the company holding that information is registered
in the US.
<br>
<br>
"It certainly does seem that the US is exploring all avenues available
to it through its domestic law," he said.
<br>
<br>
"Obviously the US itself has no law enforcement power in Europe or in
Australia, so what they're obviously trying to do is to obtain the
information by going after records held by companies which operate in
the US, which are subject to US law.
<br>
<br>
"Citizenship doesn't really matter here. The relevant question is, is
there illegal conduct happening?
<br>
<br>
"The real question is how will other countries react, you know, will
other governments try to do things to shut down this kind of
investigation?"
<br>
<br>
The order issued by the US District Court of Virginia on December 14
gave Twitter three days to release the information, including user
names, addresses, connection records, telephone numbers and bank
details.
<br>
<br>
____________________________________________________________
<br>
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:governance@lists.cpsr.org">governance@lists.cpsr.org</a>
<br>
To be removed from the list, visit:
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.igcaucus.org/unsubscribing">http://www.igcaucus.org/unsubscribing</a>
<br>
<br>
For all other list information and functions, see:
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/governance">http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/governance</a>
<br>
To edit your profile and to find the IGC's charter, see:
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.igcaucus.org/">http://www.igcaucus.org/</a>
<br>
<br>
Translate this email: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://translate.google.com/translate_t">http://translate.google.com/translate_t</a>
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
____________________________________________________________
<br>
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:governance@lists.cpsr.org">governance@lists.cpsr.org</a>
<br>
To be removed from the list, visit:
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.igcaucus.org/unsubscribing">http://www.igcaucus.org/unsubscribing</a>
<br>
<br>
For all other list information and functions, see:
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/governance">http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/governance</a>
<br>
To edit your profile and to find the IGC's charter, see:
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.igcaucus.org/">http://www.igcaucus.org/</a>
<br>
<br>
Translate this email: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://translate.google.com/translate_t">http://translate.google.com/translate_t</a>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
PK</pre>
</body>
</html>