Interesting People mailing list archives
IP: SEAN Countries Agree On Need To Monitor Internet (some
From: Dave Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1996 07:11:26 -0400
SEAN Countries Agree On Need To Monitor Internet 09/04/96 SINGAPORE, 1996 SEP 4 (NB) -- By Martyn Williams. Officials of the governments of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed on the need to control information available on the Internet, but failed to agree on a common approach. The conclusion was reached at the end of a three-day Internet forum, the first such forum held by ASEAN. Most at risk was Asian culture and the group supported the need for a close watch to be kept on the network to ensure Asian values and culture are not eroded. ASEAN groups together the nations of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Despite agreements to regulate the network, the different cultures of each country meant common ground was impossible to find, "The forum agreed that the appropriate regulatory framework would depend on the culture and legal system of each particular country," said the statement. ASEAN brings together countries with strong support for censorship and regulation, such as Singapore, and those in favor of a very light handed approach, such as the Philippines. Singapore brings in new regulations in a few days that will require service providers to block access to certain material, Web sites, and discussion groups. The Philippines has said police control of the Internet is something they are against as free speech is most important. The view of the Philippines was supported by Larry Irving, US assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information. Speaking in Singapore, he said, "Censoring the net is one of the worst things you can do. You run the risk of slowing down the development of technology because the capacity for computer power within a country will be used (to try to censor)." In addition to government taking a part in regulation, the group also called for parents to learn about the network and become involved in monitoring what their children view.
Current thread:
- IP: SEAN Countries Agree On Need To Monitor Internet (some Dave Farber (Sep 11)