14 DAY TRIAL // Mozilla doesn't necessarily make it a habit of supporting Google or Google's views, but the two companies are very closely linked on several planes. And their opinions on all matters related to the web mostly coincide. Case in point is the ITU's attempt at seizing control over the internet.
Granted, pretty much everyone is against this proposal, so the fact that Mozilla is criticizing it as well is no surprise.
The UN body that is supposed to govern telecommunications, wants to expand its reach beyond radio and phone lines.
Currently, the internet as a whole isn't governed by anyone, there are several bodies that manage aspects such as domain names and IPs, plus some for all the standards stuff, but not one group can make big decisions unilaterally.
Even if it could, it would have no way of enforcing that decision unless everyone involved agreed.
With the ITU in charge that would change, anything it would deem necessary, ISPs would have to implement. It's a simplified view, but that is the danger, in essence.
"The Internet has always been guided forwards by collaborative, open approaches. We believe that these approaches are one of the reasons why the Web has become and remained the wonderful, powerful and empowering place we know today. In the coming weeks, this successful model of governing and shaping the future of the Web will be at risk," Mozilla explained.
As such, Mozilla has come up with a number of tools and resources for those that want to get involved in the matter. The idea is to have people make it known that the ITU won't take over the internet through secret discussions while keeping everyone else in the dark.
"Whether the Internet is regulated by governmental treaties via the ITU and to what extent, is a vitally critical question. In fact it is so critical it can’t be done behind closed doors. The Internet as we know it today is just too fundamental to our lives to leave it to governments to decide its fate," Mozilla added.