Ralph Yarro and His Anti-Porn Crusaders March on ICANN & Demand Global Censorship

ICANN is accepting comments from the public on Yarro/CP80’s proposed censorship constituency until 5 April 2009.

SCO Group Chairman Ralph Yarro III, the ultra-conservative behind what Business Week dubbed "the most hated company in tech" (SCO) for stealing the computer code of thousands of Linux open source programmers is now spear-heading efforts to flood ICANN with identical form letters encouraging the adoption of Yarro’s "Cybersafety" Constituency during the Public Comment Period.  

The proposed "Cybersafety" Constituency claims to be concerned with "safety", but in reality is just a couple of anti-porn extremists in Yarro’s flock who see ICANN as an opportunity for control of the flow of information on the Internet.  The proposed censorship constituency is run by CP80, Yarro’s anti-porn outfit that argues for using ICANN as a ‘choke point’ to impose global censorship on the Internet.  Naturally, Yarro and his anti-porn zealots at CP80 propose that they know what is best for you and to what information you should be permitted access.  CP80 also proposes forcing Internet Service Providers to act as censors of their customers Internet activity, and sees ICANN as central to its plan of controlling the flow of information on the Internet.

See also the Internet Governance Project’s coverage of the petitition "Cyber-safety or Global Censorship?"

The press has begun to take note of Yarro and his Anti-Porn Crusaders’ "cut and paste" form-letter writing campaign to the ICANN Board:

"Mormons Demand ICANN Pull the Plug on Net Smut" by The Register UK

"ICANN Asked to Remake Internet in Image of Joseph Smith?" by Lauren Weinstein

"Yarro Anti-Porn Crusaders Want More Clout at ICANN" by DSL Reports

Members of the public are also discussing the CP80 petition on Slashdot.org.

ICANN is accepting public comments on Yarro/CP80’s proposed constituency until 5 April 2009, which are posted here.  

Comments on Yarro/CP80’s proposed "Cybersafety" Constituency may be submitted to ICANN until 5 April 2009 via email to  cyber-safety-petition@icann.org

Some noteworthy comments opposing the petition have been submitted by Elliot Noss, George Sadowsky, Milton Mueller, Andrew Thorpe, and Brian E. Carpenter.