Russian President Vladimir Putin is maneuvering to seize control of the Internet for the purpose of political censorship while the Obama administration has announced plans to surrender U.S. oversight to undesignated members of the international community.
This move by the Obama administration is a monumental mistake that endangers our national security and individual rights.
It must be stopped!
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce is conducting hearings on this important matter, pledging to conduct “aggressive oversight following the recent announcement by the Obama administration on the future of Internet governance.”
Liberty Counsel Action is actively engaged in telling Congress to stop Obama’s potentially catastrophic surrender. Please, click here now to sign our Stop President Obama’s Surrender of the Internet petition:
http://www.lcaction.cc/682/petition.asp
After signing, you’ll also be given the opportunity to tell members of the House committee to stop this ill-advised surrender of U.S. oversight. Please see my very important update and call to action below – Mat.
As we have seen in Crimea, Russian President Vladimir Putin is outmaneuvering the Obama administration and embarrassing our nation on the world stage on a regular basis.
In 2012, the former KGB agent secretly went to the United Nations and asked for centralized control of the Internet by an international community of overseers.
He reportedly told them that he wanted to block those people and organizations who were “’interfering in the internal affairs, or undermining the sovereignty, national security, territorial integrity and public safety of other states, or to divulge information of a sensitive nature.”
Now, the Obama administration has stealthily announced plans to relinquish our nation’s oversight of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in 2015 to the international community.
Are these events connected? Is this part of what Barack Obama told the Russian leadership he would have more latitude to do for them “after I am reelected”?
++U.S. oversight of the Internet is vital for freedom!
ICANN assigns and maintains domain names and Web addresses for the Internet. NTIA currently contracts with ICANN to carry out the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions. Under U.S. governance, the Internet has remained largely free of international political influence and censorship.
Former Representative Mary Bono, who sponsored a resolution reinforcing America’s commitment to an open Internet, recently issued this dire warning…
“We’re at a critical time where Putin is proving he is capable of outmaneuvering the administration… As they digest it, I think people are going to be very upset.”
This is an extremely dangerous concession!
While it remains unclear as to who would make up an international oversight committee, one fact remains certain: There are world leaders who would turn such oversight into a massive exercise in censorship and intelligence gathering.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich tweeted: “Every American should worry about Obama giving up control of the Internet to an undefined group. This is very, very dangerous.”
++Congressional hearings begin tomorrow!
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce is conducting hearings on this important matter beginning tomorrow.
We strongly contest turning over Internet governance to world communities and leaders who may intend to do us harm. The new “regulators” may be enemies of our way of life, enemies of the United States in general, and/or nations that oppose freedom of speech and freedom of the press for their own geo-political reasons.
++We must take immediate action!
First, please add your name to our Stop President Obama’s Surrender of the Internet petition. The petition will be delivered to key legislators who can initiate the proper action to stop this misguided plan by the Obama administration.
Click here to add your name to this important petition:
http://www.lcaction.cc/682/petition.asp
Second, after signing the petition, you will be given an opportunity to fax the members of the House committee declaring that you are among the many Americans who oppose President Obama’s plans to surrender the Internet and oppose foreign powers governing and controlling this vital communications resource and portal to the world.
Click the link below to sign the petition. Then, launch your own Fax Barrage to key congressional leaders and members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Go here:
http://www.lcaction.cc/682/petition.asp
++President Obama’s ongoing subversion of American power.
Tragically, this surrender of authority over the Internet is yet another of President Barack H. Obama’s misguided actions that will further undermine the United States’ power and influence in the world.
Pat Caddell, a noted political analyst, told Fox News…
“Let’s understand something. They [the Obama administration] do what they do all the time, which is surrender whatever advantages the country has – whichever advantages, wherever we dominate – their idea is that we should get out, we should lead from behind, we should give it up, and just like they let Eastern Europe go, they’re letting the Internet go… this government in Washington, and I hate to say, our party, has decided to surrender the country. The Internet is just part of it.”
I believe that EVERY member of this House committee must be put on notice that Americans will not stand aside while the Obama administration once again attempts to convey American rights to foreign powers!
We are urging congressional action to ensure that our oversight of the Internet is NOT ceded to the international community.
Please click here to add your name to our important petition and to launch an immediate Fax Barrage to Capitol Hill:
http://www.lcaction.cc/682/petition.asp
God bless you,
Mathew Staver, Chairman
Liberty Counsel Action