Internet Dhimmitude And Global Internet Censorship

The internet site of Geert Wilders has been shut down - Network Solutions is the company responsible for domaine names world wide and not only are they prone to install censorship, but also greedy and has got a virtual monopoly on domaine names on the entire internet.

Their credibility and legitimacy as a provider is indeed in question. [Drawing: Fawstin]

From: American Thinker.

The domain registry of Dutch politician Gert Wilders, who is set to release a new movie critical of Islam, Fitna, has been frozen, in effect silencing an internet voice and stifling his ability to get his film and his ideas to the world. Selwyn Duke brings us this news.

...now the domain links to a Network Solutions page with the following message:

This site has been suspended while Network Solutions is investigating whether the site's content is in violation of the Network Solutions Acceptable Use Policy. Network Solutions has received a number of complaints regarding this site that are under investigation. For more information about Network Solutions Acceptable Use Policy visit the following URL: http://www.networksolutions.com/legal/aup.jsp

This is another example of Western capitulation in the face of Islamist threats and intimidation and the censorship of politically incorrect views. Moreover, it's an example of how easily speech can be stifled on the Web

Selwyn warned AT readers of the dangers to free speech on the web just two months ago.

Network Solutions in effect controls the entire internet through its allocation of domain registries. The world should give very close scrutiny to its investigation, which must be speedy, and reported fully to Wilders and the world. The legitimacy of Domain Solutions is on trial here. [end]

That indeed, and censorship is not the first time in it's history.

Registry and Registrar business

In 1992, Network Solutions was the sole bidder on a grant from the National Science FoundationDomain name registrar for .com, .net and .org Top Level Domain (TLD) names.^[3] NSI also maintained the central database of assigned names called WHOIS. Network Solutions acted as a de facto registrar, selling names directly to end users. to develop the domain name registration service for the Internet. In 1993, Network Solutions, Inc. (NSI) was granted an exclusive contract by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to be the sole

In 1995, the National Science Foundation gave Network Solutions authority to charge for domain name registrations. Network Solutions charged $100 for two years registration was imposed on all domains; 30% of this revenue went to NSF to create an "Internet Intellectual Infrastructure Fund." In 1997, a lawsuit was filed charging Network Solutions with antitrust violations with regards to domain names. The 30% of the registration fee that went to the NSF was ruled by a court to be an illegal tax.

This led to a reduction in the domain name registration fee to $70.

In the 1990s, Network Solutions implemented a policy of censoring domain names. This came to light when Jeff Gold attempted to register the domain name shitakemushrooms.com but was unable to. Further aggravating the controversy was the fact that while Network Solutions' automated screens blocked the registration of shitakemushrooms.com, the domain name shit.com had been successfully registered. Network Solutions argued that it was within its First Amendment rights to block words it found offensive, even though it was operating pursuant to contract with a Federal agency NSF.

Network Solutions' $100 charge, which many parties believed was excessive, in addition to its monopoly position in the market, was one of the contributing pressures that resulted in the creation of the International Ad Hoc Committee and its failed attempt to take control of the domain name system, and to the US Department of Commerce, NTIA releasing the White Paper and ultimately contracting with ICANN to administer the DNS.

With the formation of ICANN, the domain name industry opened up to partial competition, with NSIF retaining its monopoly on .com, .net and .org but having to recognize a separation of registry and registrar. By the end of 1999 the fee for registration had been reduced to a wholesale rate of $6 per year to registered resellers.

Source: Answers.com