The United States defeated Russia in an election to control a United Nations body responsible for shaping the global development of the internet, a dispute seen as geopolitically symbolic amid broader US-Russia tensions and a response to growing fears. online censorship by authoritarian regimes.
This Thursday (29), members of the International Telecommunication Union voted to appoint Doreen Bogdan-Martin, the US-backed candidate, as the group’s general secretary.
Bogdan-Martin, a New Jersey-born ITU veteran of nearly 30 years, defeated her main rival Rashid Ismailov with 139 votes out of 172. Ismailov won just 25 votes.
Bogdan-Martin will be the first woman to lead the ITU.
“Humble and honored to be elected Secretary General of the ITU and grateful for the trust that Member States have placed in me,” Bogdan-Martin tweeted on Thursday.
“Ready to lead an ITU that will inspire, include and innovate so that everyone, everywhere can harness the power of #digital to transform their lives.”
Humbled & honored to be elected @ITU Secretary-General & grateful for the trust & confidence Member States placed in me.
Ready to lead an ITU that will inspire, include & innovate, so that everyone, everywhere can harness the power of #digital to transform their lives.#plenipot pic.twitter.com/7ryb9HPlWo— Doreen Bogdan-Martin (@ITUBDTDirector) September 29, 2022
US officials campaigned heavily on behalf of Bogdan-Martin in the run-up to the vote, in some cases describing it as a turning point for the free and open internet – principles that are increasingly being challenged by Russia and China. as these countries clamp down on their citizens’ digital freedoms.
Last week, President Joe Biden called on UN member states to support Bogdan-Martin, arguing that his leadership of the ITU will help make the internet “inclusive and accessible for all, especially in the developing world”.
The election reflected broader ideological divisions over the future of the internet, with the United States and its allies favoring a highly interconnected system governed equally at the international level by UN member states, businesses, civil society groups and technical experts.
A victory for Russia, policy experts said, would likely mean the consolidation of power under individual governments to set rules and standards for communications technology, from cell phones to satellites and the internet within its borders.
This potential power shift was predicted in a joint statement Russia and China issued last year calling for the two countries to have more representation in the ITU and underscoring their commitment to “preserving the sovereign right of States to regulate the national segment of the Internet”. ”.
Bogdan-Martin’s wide margin of victory is a sign that few support Russia and China’s vision for the internet, said the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a US technology advocacy group.
“Its election by ITU member states shows the international interest in ensuring that the technology and policies that surround it empower individuals, rather than becoming a tool of control for authoritarian regimes,” the ITIF said.
Earlier this year, the United States and 55 other countries announced their own commitment to upholding digital human rights and the free flow of information online, with a senior U.S. official describing the effort as “a key part of the overall struggle between governments.” authoritarians and democracies”.
The concerns of asplinternet” emerging – characterized by a fracture of the digital world into democratic and undemocratic spaces – were exacerbated this year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In the first weeks of the war, Russia blocked major Western social media services, including Facebook, and threatened with prison anyone who shared information that undermined the Kremlin’s narrative of the conflict.
In response, demand has increased in Russia for tools that could anonymize Russian internet users or help them bypass government-imposed blocks.
Source: CNN Brasil
Joe Jameson, a technology journalist with over 2 years of experience, writes for top online news websites. Specializing in the field of technology, Joe provides insights into the latest advancements in the industry. Currently, he contributes to covering the world stock market.
