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On Wednesday 11 May 2011 01:25 AM, Stephane Bortzmeyer wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:20110510195507.GA28533@sources.org"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">On Tue, May 10, 2011 at 07:49:24AM -0700,
Michael Gurstein <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:gurstein@gmail.com"><gurstein@gmail.com></a> wrote
a message of 51 lines which said:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">I'm not exactly sure how/where this should be covered in IG
discussions but even from a purely self-interested CS perspective
there is an absolute need to begin to work towards some sort of
global institutional/regulatory framework to ensure the preservation
of a public interest in a global virtual public space and public
capacity for very low cost IP enabled international communications
(a la skype).
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">
I fail to see why the fate of the private company Skype, which
produces a closed software using undocumented proprietary protocols
could be a subject for CS.
</pre>
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<br>
In the same way as Google of the closed algorithm is difficult to
ignore as a subject by civil society. Is there anyone here who
doesnt use google? Would MS and Google merging be not a big issue
for all us? <br>
<blockquote cite="mid:20110510195507.GA28533@sources.org"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
I agree that "preservation of a public interest in a global virtual
public space" and "very low cost IP enabled international
communications" are good goals. But Skype is the very counter-example
of what we should aim for. </pre>
</blockquote>
I agree that is the point. But what do you think we should aim for.
Not only as our IP based communication system, but also as our
search engine, and our social networking site, as out payment
gateway ......<br>
<br>
The solution lies both in encouraging alternative practises, models
and software/ applications, but as much in right regulatory
frameworks. It would never to be possible to get what we seek
without the later. That for me is one of the biggest IG issue around
today. parminder <br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:20110510195507.GA28533@sources.org"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Specially, the fact that the source code is
hidden from its users is there to hide shameful practices such as
enrolling users as "supernodes" without asking their advice or even
informing them (see
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="http://www.velocityreviews.com/forums/t727931-skype-fixed-supernodes-list.html"><http://www.velocityreviews.com/forums/t727931-skype-fixed-supernodes-list.html></a>
and the list in
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="http://cryptolib.com/ciphers/skype/skype_servers.txt"><http://cryptolib.com/ciphers/skype/skype_servers.txt></a>).
So, if CS is interested in "preservation of a public interest in a
global virtual public space", it should push the use of open protocols
for instant messaging and voice over Internet (XMPP and SIP), not to
encourage closed software.
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</pre>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><font color="#666666"><font
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style="font-weight: normal;">Parminder Jeet Singh</span></span></font></font></font><font
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</span></font></font><font color="#666666"><font
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Director<br>
IT for Change <br>
NGO in Special Consultative Status with the United
Nations ECOSOC</span></font></font></font><font
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</span></font><font color="#666666"><font face="FlamaBook"><font
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href="http://www.ITforChange.net/">www.ITforChange.net</a><br>
Tel:+91-80-2665 4134, 2653 6890. Fax:+91-80-4146 1055<br>
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