US seeks to drop Internet from UN telecoms talks: Report

Wellington, Dec 5 (ANI): American envoys have reportedly said that they are working with other countries on a proposal to drop all discussions on possible Internet regulations from a UN telecommunications conference in Dubai.

The US is leading calls to reject possible new codes on the Net by the International Telecommunications Union, a 193-nation body making its first major oversight revisions in nearly 25 years.

According to Stuff.co.nz, American representatives conducted talks on Tuesday on the proposal to take all Internet-related discussions off the table.

The US fears any UN Internet regulations could complicate commerce and be used by nations such as China and Russia to justify further cyber-crackdowns, the report said.

The head of the UN group, Hamadoun Toure, however, insisted that 11-day talks will not limit freedom of expression.

It said the talks would mostly seek ways to broaden Internet services to developing countries, the report added. (ANI)