Google starts public campaign over ITU regulatory conference

Google has started an online campaign ahead of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) regulatory conference next month, calling on internet users to sign a petition supporting a 'free and open' internet.

Google said some governments are trying to use the 'closed-door' meeting to 'increase censorship and regulate the internet'.

The ITU conference in Dubai will discuss the International Telecommunication Regulations, a multilateral treaty governing international telecommunication issues such as interconnection and interoperability.

Each country that is a member of the ITU may send a delegation. Google said governments alone should not be allowed to direct the future of the internet, and the billions of internet users should have a say in the matter.

It also termed the ITU 'secretive' as the proposals at the conference are confidential. At the same time as building up public interest, Google is participating in the US government's delegation to the conference.

The company has four representatives in the 94-member delegation, the most of any company. Other companies participating include AT&T, Cisco, Intel, Microsoft and Verizon.

The International Telecommunication Union, previously the International Telegraph Union, is a specialised agency of the United Nations which is responsible for information and communication technologies.

ITU coordinates the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promotes international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, works to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world, and establishes worldwide standards.