USA : Boss of the Internet
US seizes domain name of Spanish company selling Cuba trips
If the US intends to continue presenting itself as the guardian of Internet rights, situations like this require a bit more delicacy. By effectively shutting down Marshall’s business, the United States has committed the censorship it condemns in other nations. Even worse, the Department of Treasury effectively shut down an international business without any type of due process. Both France and Germany followed a court process when investigating Yahoo for alleged improprieties, and the company in question (Yahoo) had the opportunity to respond to the charges in a court of law. Marshall was afforded no such luxury.While the Internet may be global in nature, foreign companies may very well limit their use of US registrars and hosting services out of concern that activities targeted at other countries could be shut down here.
Couple of points:
Cuba is not a threat and as not been since the fall of the USSR. I also think that our policy towards Cuba, only plays in to keeping the ‘Castos’ (I see that the Raul Castro as an extension of the Fidel regime) staying in power. If we established relations and lift the embargo, and softened our policy to a nation that is NO military threat to us what so ever, Castro’s supporters would quickly see what a raw deal they where getting, and would inspire there own revolt. The hard line only supplies a villain for Castro rhetoric for propaganda.
While the Internet was born in the US it is a GLOBAL entity. If it is to remain global it cannot be used as instrument of US policy. There is no medium MORE capable of giving voice to the concerns of ALL people without respect of person than the Internet. Not only that we put at risk the very reason why the Internet is so successful as a platform for innovation, it’s openess.
