Keep the Internet free

[Commentary] From the time of the Internet’s invention, the immense creativity and rapid expansion of the World Wide Web has been propelled by its freedom from government control. Now, that freedom is facing a threat from an entity that, to many, is unfamiliar — The International Telecommunication Union, a branch of the United Nations. The issues involved are complex, but the stakes are easy to grasp: Will we allow the essential freedom of the Internet to be undermined by opening the door to regulation by an international organization? The Internet’s creation and astonishing growth were not the result of government planning or regulation, but the very opposite. If the Internet is to grow, it must be protected from these attacks. The familiar saying, “the price of liberty is eternal vigilance,” contains a great truth. Those who wish to enjoy the benefits of liberty have no option but to accept their responsibility to defend it. I pledge to continue working with my colleagues to keep the Internet free and open.