Yugoslavia's Internet Connection Unaffected by US Embargo

Mon, 17 May 1999

FINS SPECIAL REPORT: May 17, 1999
[ Federal Information News Syndicate ]

NO SHUT DOWN FOR YUGOSLAVIA'S INTERNET CONNECTION President's Embargo of Services Does Not Reach Internet

Washington, DC--US State Department spokesman James Rubin said the United States would refrain from barring Yugoslavian Internet services according to a report Saturday by Jon Swartz, published in the San Francisco Chronical. In their use of the Net, Rubin encouraged Serbians to look beyond the propaganda- of Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic.

-The Serbian people deserve to access independent and objective information, whether by the Internet or other media Rubin said.

Under a trade embargo signed by President Bill Clinton last month American companies and citizens are prevented from -the sale, or supply, directly or indirectly of software, technology or services to war-torn Yugoslavia. It was feared that this might be interpreted to shut down Internet services for Yugoslavia.

However, as all good civil libertarians understand, such a general prohibition could not work to censor speech via Internet, which enjoys protection under the First Amendment, by rulings of the US Supreme Court in cases such as Reno v. ACLU (1997). In that decision the Court recognized that the Internet is a unique and wholly new medium of worldwide human communications. The Court also stated that -our cases provide no basis for qualifying the level of First Amendment scrutiny that should be applied to this the Internet medium.

Indeed, any person or organization with a computer connected to the Internet can publish information the Court observed, and this publishing role is now becoming a special channel for political discourse by independent citizens of the world. The special quality of Internet news derives from its immediacy with events around the world, often reported by citizens and unfiltered by profit pressures.

This special quality also stems from the ability afforded by the World Wide Web for citizens groups to organize around controversial issues of importance and build up a rich base of valid and relevant knowledge from which to identify emerging patterns of significance.

------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- From: "Vigdor Schreibman" To: "janet m eaton" ,

Etc --snip--
Subject: POSSIBLE INTERNET SERVICE SHUT DOWN TO YUGOSLAVIA
Date: Fri, 14 May 1999 12:42:57 -0400

FINS SPECIAL REPORT

May 14, 1999 Federal Information News Syndicate (FINS)

POSSIBLE INTERNET SERVICE SHUT DOWN TO YUGOSLAVIA National Security Agency in the Dark on the Issue

Washington, DC--The White House, National Security Office, informed FINS today (Friday, May 14, 1999, 10:30 A.M. EST), that they were aware of questions regarding a possible shut down of Internet services for Yugoslavia, but they could not confirm whether or not this shut down was appropriate. The problem arises from an Executive Order signed by President Bill Clinton, banning the sale of goods and services to Yugoslavia, which might be applied to Internet services.

FINS has learned from internet traffic via the ALA Social Responsibilities Round Table discussion list, that Loral Space and Communications Ltd. of New York is concerned that they might be forced by the President's order to cut satellite service to Yugoslavia. Loral satellite service supports at least two of Yugoslavia's major Internet service providers (ISP), according to reports received from SRRT.

An NSC desk officer told FINS that they would investigate the issue and respond accordingly when they were better informed of White House policy on this matter.

It is difficult to imagine how any sane and reasonable person can conclude that the provision of relevant information about the nasty war in Yugoslavia is an imminent threat to national security. FINS issued a News Column, Monday, May 10, 1999, on the important role of the Internet in providing vital information concerning the Balkans situation. The News Column is available online at URL: http://sunsite.utk.edu/FINS/News+AF8-Columns/Fins-NC7-04.html

It is at least evident at this moment, from the information that the NSC has provided to FINS, that they have arrived at no such conclusion.

However, this may be a great way to shut down the war in Yugoslavia by enraging the entire global Internet population.

Vigdor Schreibman -- FINS
Communicating the emerging philosophy of the Global Information Age.
Phone: (202)547-8715+ADs- Email: fins98+AEA-worldnet.att.net+ADs- Browse Fins Information Age Library at URL: http://sunsite.utk.edu/FINS/

Return to PMA's Alert: Stop NATO bombing, Condemn NZ government support for the airstrikes!

Action Alerts	PMA's newsletter	What's on where	Peace links	Help PMA grow	How PMA can help you	Petition Forms	Site Map