[ABANDONED] The Internet Act

[Llorens]

Draft #3

1) CONCERNED that many nations are limiting their citizens from using the Internet, a valuable resource in the further education and economic development of society.
2) BELIEVING that the Internet is an essential component to a modern society, as it helps promote increased freedom of expression, more accountable government, more free economic development, and stronger civic societies/institutions.
3) DEFINES the Internet as a computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using standardised communication protocols.
4) UNDERSTANDS that the Internet provides educational stimulus, more opportunities for growth of the economy and business, and also increases political freedoms.

The General Assembly hereby:
1) URGES all nations to fund the construction of data networks to increase the accessibility of the Internet's educational and collaborative resources.
2) ENCOURAGES all nations to fund new/improved library facilities with internet-accessible resources.

No existent copy of the original draft.

Draft #2:

1) DEFINES the internet as a computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using standardised communication protocols.
2) UNDERSTANDS that the internet provides educational stimulus, more opportunities for growth of the economy and business, and also increases political freedoms.
3) RECOGNISES that the internet is an essential component to a modern society, as it is key to increased freedom of expression, more accountable government, more free economic development, and stronger civic societies/institutions.

The General Assembly hereby:
1) DECLARES that all nations with appropriate infrastructure must provide their citizens with access to the internet.
2) URGES all nations with appropriate infrastructure to implement a program to increase internet-accessible devices in higher education.
3) ENCOURAGES all nations with appropriate infrastructure to implement a program to fund new/improved library facilities with internet-accessible resources.
4) ALLOWS the continuation of internet restriction, but only to sources that are deemed to have no educational, economic, or political purpose.

[Araraukar]

When you have already submitted a proposal, it's beyond our help. Submitted proposals can't be edited any more.

Category: Education and Creativity
Area of Effect: Educational

Right now it looks like a category failure; the things you seem to want to do don't have anything to do with education. The Educational AoE refers to, you know, education, such as schools and curriculae.

You also talk about internet access being a human right, but it doesn't fit that category either, so as you push for free access (OOC: think how unlikely that would be to happen even in Real Life!) in the name of some nebulous "common good", I get an entirely different category vibe from this, and if I had any reason to think it was in any danger of achieving quorum, I would send in a request to have it removed for a rules violation.

OOC: You can ask for the Mods to remove it by sending in a Getting Help Request, and then continue drafting it here. As it is now, I don't think it has much chance of even getting to vote, not to mention passing. It would need a lot of work.

EDITed to fix spelling.

[World Assembly Improvement Foundation]

When you have already submitted a proposal, it's beyond our help. Submitted proposals can't be edited any more.

What my colleague means to say here, is that if you file a Getting Help Request to remove the proposal, then you can edit it here, and we can give you help on it. But proposals in queue can't be changed.

OOC @Ara
Already sent a TG to Llorens.

[Jarish Inyo]

Why should the government pay for peoples online gaming and streaming activities?

[The United Universe]

Please provide any feedback on my General Assembly proposal, the Internet Act:
http://www.nationstates.net/page=UN_vie ... 1466813455

If you can't access the link, or you're not bothered:

1. RECOGNISES that the internet is a valuable and essential resource to the further development of society.
2. NOTES that many individuals and groups may be restricted from the internet and, therefore, the human right to be able to use this resource for educational and social purposes.
3. UNDERSTANDS that the positives (i.e. educational and social benefits) clearly outweigh the negatives (i.e. cost) of internet usage.
4. REALISES that a world without the internet would further divide and primitivize nations, as the internet is a key component in a quickly changing modern society.

Therefore, The Internet Act hereby declares that:
1. Every WA nation must give their citizens access to the internet, as this will clearly boost their connection to all nations and encourage the growth of knowledge and education.
2. A nation may still choose to block certain content, as long as this does not infringe on their citizen's necessity of human rights (i.e. their education and social interconnectedness).
3. All access provided to the internet must be free of charge, so as to not be counterproductive and push the poorer further away from society.

I think this should be a Furtherment of Democracy Resolution. Other than that, I'd love to see this as a resolution.

[Araraukar]

I think this should be a Furtherment of Democracy Resolution. Other than that, I'd love to see this as a resolution.

Or Social Justice, it all depends on how it's written. Currently it's written as a category failure in every category.

[Wallenburg]

"Excuse me, but what is an inter-net?"

[Wallenburg]

"We should slaughter the idiots who don't know what the internet is.
Also, we approve"

Ogenbond withdraws a pistol and puts two bullets in the new ambassador's chest. He looks at the other ambassadors and shrugs, "Hey, it was self defense! You heard him, he wants to kill anyone who doesn't know whatever futuristic technology inter-net is!"

[Araraukar]

*snip*

OOC: Weapons nullifiers work in the debate chambers. Weapons don't work here. And you know this too, Wallenburg, so stop setting up violent newbies for ridicule.

Also, not all nations are so primitive as to need or need to know of the Internet. In Wallenburg's RP it's as much scifi as faster-than-light traveing is in real life, but there are several nations around here for whom RL tech is practically steam age if not further back.

[Araraukar]

OOC: Yeah, I was expecting that, It's just that Wallenburg started that.
IC: "well, for the sake of dispute the only country mad enough not to accept this act would be North Korea and some horrible place that wants its citizens to be controlled by the state. So there, I made my point"

OOC: Your "IC" thing there fails because most nations here aren't based on RL Earth and thus don't have a clue what North Korea is. And if one player is acting stupidly, it's not a good idea to copy the behaviour. Always remember that Ignore Cannon is the only weapon that works in the debate chamber.

IC: I would think that most nations around here wouldn't want the WA banning their interwebs operators from charging for their services. After all, who's going to pay them under the model of this proposal? The government? The WA?

[Araraukar]

*snip*

OOC: You can "fix" your own posts by editing them. Like I edited mine. See my response above to your "point".

[Araraukar]

OOC: I knew this but barely anyone notices the edits. Also I'm not new to this stuff, this is just another one of my nations.

OOC: If you're an undeclared puppet that acts like a newbie, I'm going to treat you like a newbie. If you're not a newbie, then you really should've known better! Also, you need to stop double-posting. Editing really is your friend here.

"Well the one's who are going to pay for it are going to be the government. Why not allow people to have more freedom in spending their money?"

Why allow people to have money at all? Why not give everything to them for free in return for them working as best suits their abilities? If government pays for everything, then the citizens don't have any need for money. Very simple, really.

[Wallenburg]

OOC: Weapons nullifiers work in the debate chambers. Weapons don't work here. And you know this too, Wallenburg, so stop setting up violent newbies for ridicule.

OOC: Since when did that happen? I thought it was the Bar and the voting chamber, unless otherwise indicated.

[The Sheika]

Therefore, The Internet Act hereby declares that:
1. Every WA nation must give their citizens access to the internet, as this will clearly boost their connection to all nations and encourage the growth of knowledge and education.

I cannot really argue that nations whom are capable of providing internet access should ensure the means of access to it's populace for the reason that you had stated. It not only helps to boost education, but the economy can benefit as well.

2. A nation may still choose to block certain content, as long as this does not infringe on their citizen's necessity of human rights (i.e. their education and social interconnectedness).

Once again, I cannot really argue with this, although I am sure somebody is more than likely able to provide a reasonable argument against this.

3. All access provided to the internet must be free of charge, so as to not be counterproductive and push the poorer further away from society.

This is where the entire resolution hit the skids for me. Maintaining the infrastructure for the internet is not something that can just be pulled out of thin air; the money has to come from somewhere. Paying for service provides funding to maintain, improve, and even expand internet service without an increase in internal taxes to cover the costs. If you would rather argue in favor of service neutrality, as in keeping the price fair for the service that is being provided, I am sure you would gain more traction.

[Araraukar]

*snip*

OOC: The debate chamber I think was their original use, to prevent exactly what you started here. I didn't even know there was a separate voting chamber.

"Well the Government can't pay for everything, people will get greedy and demand more. Leading to an economy collapse. We can't build 14 million skyscrapers for 1 person"

Why would you? What would one person do with even one skyscraper? But the "people will get greedy and demand more" fits very well for the opposition to free interwebs services.

[World Assembly Improvement Foundation]

OOC: Weapons nullifiers work in the debate chambers. Weapons don't work here. And you know this too, Wallenburg, so stop setting up violent newbies for ridicule.

OOC: Since when did that happen? I thought it was the Bar and the voting chamber, unless otherwise indicated.

It's definitely in the Bar, but whether or not it is in the debate chambers is questionable:

OOC: It's present in the bar (and, some say, the debate halls), not in the offices (or the men's room). Though some of us more advanced -- and more pacifist -- nations may have some sort of ACME technology in our offices, you never know.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

Approved. We have laws like this in our country and have seen increased literacy rates.

[Separatist Peoples]

Bell rubs his head wearily.

"Yes, we get it. You disagree with this proposal. You've made your point. Could you tone it down a notch?"

[Separatist Peoples]

Bell rubs his head wearily.

"Yes, we get it. You disagree with this proposal. You've made your point. Could you tone it down a notch?"

"What? WRONG! WE agree, THE ONES WHO disagree are Ustase!"

"Whatever. Then you agree. Tone it down already. Nobody actually cares, as this proposal isn't going anywhere."

[Separatist Peoples]

"Whatever. Then you agree. Tone it down already. Nobody actually cares, as this proposal isn't going anywhere."

"Okay whatever"
*breaks the projector and leaves*

"Great, that's lunch, people!"

[Araraukar]

"Great, that's lunch, people!"

On your tab?

[Imperium Anglorum]

"Great, that's lunch, people!"

On your tab?

Parsons: Mate. I've got a chef here. I like you guys, so you can have it for free.

---

It's definitely in the Bar, but whether or not it is in the debate chambers is questionable:

OOC: It's present in the bar (and, some say, the debate halls), not in the offices (or the men's room). Though some of us more advanced -- and more pacifist -- nations may have some sort of ACME technology in our offices, you never know.

Or, you have Parsons's classic dodge-the-bullet shenanigans. I will freely admit to godmodding my ambassadors around other people attempt to godmod assaulting them.

[Llorens]

I understand this won't get passed this time, but there are some feedback points that I will use to build upon and fix it (keep in mind that this is my first time making a WA proposal, and I didn't realise that I should make a forum before submitting it):

1) The category doesn't fit.
---> The reason for me choosing Education is that the act basically revolves around the fact that the Internet would boost education, but I can see why this would fit better under maybe Social Services or Furtherment of Democracy.

2) Free of charge?
---> Now thinking about it, free internet doesn't sound like it would work, unless that money comes out of taxes (which I would fully support, but I can see both sides of the coin). But I will explain my reasoning for this anyway: if everyone is going to get internet access, it shouldn't be a financial struggle upon those who are poor, creating a larger wealth gap that will evidently grow the poverty cycle (no internet means no education means no job means no money means no internet, etc.).

3) What about freedom of money usage?
---> The internet is an essential public service in our modern society, such as healthcare and education (the latter being boosted by this technology). Also the General Assembly basically exists to impose restrictions...

4) Only education?
---> I was thinking about it, and I could probably expand the uses of the internet, so as to create a larger positive effect on WA nations. This could include expanding business and the economy (not really my thing, but I guess whatever), and modernising social services (e.g. public transport live timetables, online health records, etc.).

[Tinfect]

1) The category doesn't fit.
---> The reason for me choosing Education is that the act basically revolves around the fact that the Internet would boost education, but I can see why this would fit better under maybe Social Services or Furtherment of Democracy.

OOC:
It doesn't belong in Furtherment of Democracy, I can tell you that right off the bat. I'm thinking that it would best fit in Social Justice, or, Human Rights, depending on how you spin it, but you'll have a hard time convincing anyone that this is even slightly of international relevance, myself included.

[Llorens]

1) The category doesn't fit.
---> The reason for me choosing Education is that the act basically revolves around the fact that the Internet would boost education, but I can see why this would fit better under maybe Social Services or Furtherment of Democracy.

OOC:
It doesn't belong in Furtherment of Democracy, I can tell you that right off the bat. I'm thinking that it would best fit in Social Justice, or, Human Rights, depending on how you spin it, but you'll have a hard time convincing anyone that this is even slightly of international relevance, myself included.

If you don't think this is of international relevance, I'm sure there'd be quite a few passed resolutions that you wouldn't agree with either.