Some good news

The United States, Canada, Australia and, astonishingly enough, the UK have refused to sign the United Nations Telecommunications Treaty that would have opened the way to attempted censorship of the internet. Don't believe me? Just have a look at who the main supporters of this treaty are: Russia, China, Saudi Arabia and other suchlike freedom-loving states.

To be fair, some other countries have voiced reservations:

Negotiators from Denmark, Italy, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Greece, Portugal, Finland, Chile, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Costa Rica and Kenya have said they would need to consult with their national governments about how to proceed and would also not be able to sign the treaty as planned on Friday.

We shall see how many of them refuse to sign.

Hot Air rejoices, as well it might but adds a rather depressing caveat:

The worst thing about this proposed treaty is that, if put to a vote, it probably would get a lot of support. The United Nations’ ostensible goals include advancing peace and freedom, except plenty of the United Nations member countries have sketchy-to-downright-opprobrious records with press freedom and human rights — making it all too clear that the UN isn’t about peace and freedom as much as it is protecting and advancing the interests of its members, no matter how many moral excuses they can come up with to self-justify.

Sadly, I find it hard to disagree with that and can only approve of the fact that there will be no referendum on the subject anywhere. Or, at least, not anywhere where it counts.