Rep Bono Mack Resolution Urges White House To Keep UN Away From Internet

Rep Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) re-introduced a nonbinding resolution calling on President Barack Obama to oppose any efforts by the United Nations to take over governance of the Internet.

"It has become increasingly clear that international governmental organizations, such as the United Nations, have aspirations to become the epicenter of Internet governance. And I'm going to do everything I can to make sure this never happens," said Rep Bono Mack, the new chairwoman of the House Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade. She introduced a similar resolution in the last Congress. Rep Bono Mack wrote House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) to urge her to advance the measure. The resolution notes that some countries that favor having the United Nations or another international entity play a bigger role in Internet governance "use the Internet as a tool of surveillance to curtail legitimate political discussion and dissent." Such countries want the United Nations or another international entity to "endorse national policies that block access to information, stifle political dissent, and maintain outmoded communications structures," according to the resolution.