China and Iran are about to gain control over your internet

U.S. will cede control over internet to UN on Oct. 1.

The Obama administration is about to hand over the keys to the internet to the UN, where authoritarian regimes such as China and Iran will have more ability to censor and control speech.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - The agency that hands out internet domain names is about to gain a lot of power, and the United States is the one giving it up.

Since the beginning of the internet, a largely American invention with key contributions from global academia, has been under U.S. control. This control has been criticized by the international community because one nation has all the power.

To alleviate these concerns, the Obama administration is prepared to hand over control of the internet to international regulators. No country will have complete control over the internet anymore.

Presently, the U.S government holds a contract from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers which effectively grants the federal government control over the internet. That contract expires on Sept. 30, unless the federal government renews it. Obama has said he does not intend to renew the agreement.

Once the agreement lapses on Oct. 1, ICANN will need to align itself with another state agency to retain its anti-trust exemption under international law. So far, there are no takers.

With no place to go, ICANN will have to turn to the UN, which has wanted control for a long time.

Critics say this will be a disaster. Once the UN has control over the internet, authoritarian regimes such as China and Iran could use their power to diminish free speech.

So far, there is little resistance in the U.S. to the handoff. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) have introduced a bill that would block the transfer without Congressional approval. However, even if the bill passes, it would likely be vetoed by President Obama.

For now, it looks like things are going to get even better for China, Iran and North Korea in cyberspace.

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