VoIP and Internet Freedom

Government authorities around the world continue to wrestle with the issue of voice-over-Internet-protocol services (VoIP). Different governments are applying different approaches to oversight of VoIP offerings. The Chinese government, for example, permits VoIP services in China, but requires that all such services be provided only by the state-owned telecommunications companies. Government restrictions on VoIP services are a bad idea for at least three reasons. Those restrictions will, as a practical matter, be very difficult to enforce. In addition, they signal an overly intrusive approach to oversight of the diversification of Internet-based service offerings. Finally, VoIP restrictions seem to be part of a troubling trend of regulatory initiatives launched by governments around the world and aimed at impeding the ability of the Internet to serve as a key component of social and political activist movements.