China asks world to impose 'code of conduct' on Internet
China asks world to impose 'code of conduct' on Internet
By RUDY TAKALA • 10/10/15 12:41 PM
A Chinese official on Friday called on the United Nations
to impose an international code of conduct on the Internet.
"It is highly necessary and pressing for the
international community to jointly bring about an international code of conduct
on cyberspace at an early date," said Wang Qun, director-general of the
Arms Control Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, in comments to the
U.N. General Assembly.
Wang's comments were reported by China's main state-owned
press outlet, the Xinhua News Agency.
"China, for its part, will continue to commit itself
to establishing a peaceful, secure, open and cooperative cyberspace and pushing
for an early international code of conduct acceptable to all," Wang added.
The U.N. will be considering norms related to cyberspace
security this month. A committee comprised of 20 nations published a proposal
over the summer for the General Assembly to consider.
The U.N. advisory board has called for "effective
cooperation among States to reduce risks to international peace and
security" and says that state actors "should not conduct or knowingly
support" cyber crime.
In the wake of high profile hacks into the U.S. State
Department, Department of Defense, and the Office of Personnel Management by
China and Russia over the last year, officials have expressed a desire to
establish norms on the matter.
However, at the same time, President Obama has been
moving forward with a plan to transfer control of Internet domain name
functions to a multi-stakeholder body. Along with Russia, China has been the
most vocal in urging a quick conclusion to that process, and for a management
structure that ensures governments retain power over private stakeholders. As a
result, observers will be watching to see what China's conception of a
"code of conduct" entails.
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