Story: Net rule by divine right is not the American way

Posted by: Arthur B. (Wednesday 12 October 2005, 1:15 AM)

The Internet itself should be no more then a global open road that doesn't interfere with what travels on it. For that we have traffic control centers, police, maintenance crews, road signs, laws and what not. And those can be localized. And differ from country to country yet more or less offer the same services and conditions depanding on what a specific country is capable of, and willing, to deliver.

It would be the day if the world over the road you travel on determines under which (foreign) country laws you fall and your own national police would have to enforce that. And it would be the day if the road itselfs decides to boot you off the road because it doesn't like the colour of your car. And it certainly would be the day if, say, the UK could force every other country in the world to have all cars drive on the left side.

No, the Internet should be as globally divided (yet common at the same time) as currently roads are. Sure, countries can mutually agree to follow the same rules and they ofcourse should see the benefits of that. But it shouldn't be the case that one country decides for all or even could decide for all.