Cybersecurity and ITU WCIT Proposals

Member States of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) are considering this year whether to extend the ITU’s regulatory authority to the Internet. Several proposals have been made to revise the ITU’s basic treaty to include provisions addressing the security of networks or information. These proposals have rightly raised controversy not only because of their implications for Internet freedom, but also because of concerns that ITU intervention could distract from or undermine other ongoing efforts by institutions better suited to address Internet security.