Next G8 president wants to “regulate the internet”

Robert Hallock (Thrax)

December 10, 2008 2:15 PM ET in News, , , ,

Boisterous Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has stated that he intends to use his country’s upcoming leadership of the G8 group to push for international legislation that would “regulate the internet.”

In a conference with Italian postal workers, Berlusconi likened internet regulation to financial market regulation. “The G8 has as its task the regulation of financial markets… I think the next G8 can bring to the table a proposal for a regulation of the internet,” he said.

Composed of eight nations (France, United States, United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada), the presidency of the G8 rotates amongst its constituent members. When Italy heads the G8 come January 1, it will mark the second time this decade that Berlusconi has set the tone for the locations and agendas of G8 meetings. Berlusconi’s last G8 presidency was marred by public outcry and riots at an annual meeting in Genoa.

While Berlusconi has thus far been mum on the details of such regulation, liberal Italian newspaper L’Unita remains worried. “You can not say that it is not a disturbing proclamation, given that the only countries in the world where there are filters or restrictions against internet are countries ruled by dictatorial regimes: those between China, Iran, Cuba, Saudi Arabia,” they said.

5 Comments:

  1. MiracleManS
    10 Dec '08, 7:48 pm

    It seems to me that an outdated mode of thinking is in effect here. The past couple weeks have seen hundreds of cries for "CENSOR THE INTERNETS!" from government officials, from places like the UK, Australia, and India. Its disturbing to see a trend towards "we know whats best for you, and we should regulate it" even though the internet does not reside in one given place.

    It just reeks of "we know whats best" which isn't always the right reason for doing something.

  2. Thrax
    10 Dec '08, 7:59 pm

    Physical law: Create laws through the actions of representation and then evaluate the merits of each case with a fair trial.

    Internet law: Create laws through the actions of representation and then blanket-ban items without evaluating the merits of any case.

  3. bothered
    11 Dec '08, 9:16 am

    I'm not surprised the UK is involved here. The industrial revolution was born here and is turning in to big brother very quickly. The UK government knows what we should all be thinking and doing. It's frightening.

  4. primesuspect
    11 Dec '08, 1:51 pm

    Remember, remember, the Fifth of November....

  5. bothered
    11 Dec '08, 10:26 pm

    Nov 5 was a religious thing and has nothing to do with what's happening today. For instance, we have more CCTV than any other country in the world, we have the least workers rights in Europe and the longest working hours. Anyway, I don't want to go on whinging, suffice to say I'm not surprised the UK is involved with regulating anything.

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