UN Internet conference: US set to reject new regulations for the web

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: American envoys say they are working with other nations on a proposal to drop all discussions on possible Internet regulations from a UN telecommunications conference in Dubai. The US is leading calls to reject possible new codes on the Net by the International Telecommunications Union, a 193-nation body making its first major oversight revisions in nearly 25 years. US representatives held meetings Tuesday on the proposal to take all Internet-related discussions off the table. [caption id=“attachment_544895” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Participants listen to the speech of Hamdoun Toure, Secretary General of International Telecommunication Union, ITU, at  the World Conference on International Telecommunication in Dubai. AP[/caption] The US fears any UN Internet regulations could complicate commerce and be used by nations such as China and Russia to justify further cyber-crackdowns. But the head of the UN group, Hamadoun Toure, insists the 11-day talks will not limit freedom of expression and will mostly seek ways to broaden Internet services to developing countries. AP