Professor John Savage of Brown University, a distinguished
scholar of computer science, has called my attention to a contribution to the
CWG-Internet online consultation that does a disservice to both the
International Telecommunication Union and to me.
In
July, Richard Hill submitted a long contribution entitled “Developmental
Aspects of the Internet: The Last Gasp
of Colonialism, or Imperialism by Other Means?”
The submission itself is as tendentious as its title suggests. It is not my intention, however, to engage
Dr. Hill in a debate about his perspectives.
I have more parochial concerns.
Dr. Hill’s contribution purports
to quote remarks I made at an Internet Society meeting.
As Professor Savage’s analysis (attached)
demonstrates, these “quotations” are constructed and presented in a fashion
well outside the bounds of normal practice.
More importantly, they are used, falsely, in aid of propositions and an
overall thesis with which I do not agree.
Because Professor Savage’s
analysis sets forth the matter in detail, there is no need for me to extend the
discussion.
Philip L. Verveer
Washington, DC
September 2, 2013
Athachment:
http://www.itu.int/council/groups/CWG-internet/HillConstructionOfVerveerQuotes.pdf
