Re: [gaia] Blog on AFRINIC proposal

[Mallory Knodel <[e-mail]>]

On 04/06/17 06:43 PM, Andrew Sullivan wrote:
> On Sat, Jun 03, 2017 at 05:09:51PM +0300, Nicolas Pace wrote:
>> One could be cross boarder links, or border IXPs... But I'm not that versed in these things to give an opinion
>>
> A government sufficiently motivated to "shut down the Internet" will
> shut down those links and IXPs too, unless they are of sufficient
> density and number that the government can't go after them all.  The
> "numbers" problem is actually _part_ of the problem.  (This is also,
> of course, why increased concentration in "tier 1" transit providers
> is dangerous for the Internet.)
>
> But the more basic problem with the proposal as presented is that it
> is attempting a tech fix to a social problem.

It's the governments who shut down the internet who are using tech to
fix social problems. Furthermore withholding IPs is not a technical
solution to the shutdowns-- the shutdowns could still happen.
Withholding them is a form of high-pressure advocacy.

So really, this is advocacy to fix a tech problem that was introduced to
fix a social problem.

Corinne's post does an excellent job of breaking down the issue and
asking the real question, which is does the proposal put at further risk
internet access for users who are already struggling with connectivity.

-Mallory

-- 
Mallory Knodel
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