More than 100 countries are discussing whether to keep the addition of leap seconds to the global time system . The UK , Canada and China are pressing to keep the leap seconds when the issue is discussed at the U.N. 's International Telecommunications Union meeting on Thursday . Thursday devices rely on incredibly accurate time keeping . The UK and most European nations want to abandon the leap seconds system which they say is too cumbersome . Without the adjustment , time measured by atomic clocks and time according to the Earth 's rotation will start to deviate .
More than 100 countries are discussing whether to keep the addition of leap seconds to the global time system . Thursday devices rely on incredibly accurate time keeping . The UK and most European nations want to abandon the leap seconds system which they say is too cumbersome . Without the adjustment , time measured by atomic clocks and time according to the Earth 's rotation will start to deviate .