UN has no place in Internet regulation

[Commentary] As the Internet evolves, so do efforts to contain and control it. Instead of innovation and free inquiry, governments see political threats and a tax-rich gold mine. A U.N. treaty under debate underscores these stakes.

Next week, a little known U.N. body - the International Telecommunications Agency - will consider updating Internet standards, an extension of its loose oversight of worldwide communications standards. Fraud, spam and the technical needs of an expanding system are on the agenda. So are plans to give countries wider controls over what's delivered - think of YouTube videos, Facebook posts, e-mail alerts and Google searches. Add to this list another idea: whether big Internet firms should pay an entry fee when their content zips across borders - a clear effort to milk an indispensable system. These suggestions come from the usual suspects. Russia, China and Iran - who've all taken forceful steps to clamp down on free speech - want the U.N. seal of approval on censorship. Developing countries looking to modernize at low cost want a road tax that would make big content providers pay to deliver movies, tweets and messages. It's hard to believe these efforts will win out.

The treaty gathering should be an occasion to improve and widen the Internet's potential. Rising traffic, increased demands for new services and better connections all deserve attention. But there's one thing the Internet doesn't need: a grab for control by governments that fear its power and reach.