Non-US governments will have more control over the governance
of the internet as the US gives up its exclusive control ofIcann, the body primarily responsible for managing
internet domain names.
European communications commissioner Viviane Reding today
welcomed the move that she said would make Icann "more open and
accountable to billions of internet users worldwide".
Under new rules that come into effect tomorrow, Icann, the
US-based Internet Corporation for
Assigned Names and Numbers, will no longer be subject to
unilateral review by the US Department of Commerce (DoC).
It will answer instead to review panels appointed by Icann's
governmental advisory committee (GAC) and Icann itself, with the
involvement of governments around the world.
Icann, a private, non-profit California firm, was set up in 1998
when the DoC decided that it was not in the business of managing
the internet's domain name system (DNS).
DNS relates domain names such as Computerweekly.com to a
specific internet address of uniform resource location (URL). This
is essential for internet traffic to reach its destination.
Icann works through a network of national domain name registrars
to record who owns what domain name, run local DNS servers, and
resolve disputes about domain names.
Until now, the entire process has been largely the work of
private individuals, governed by a memorandum of understanding
between Icann and the DoC.
The growing importance of the internet has prompted demands for
Icann to be more accountable to the world community. Since 2005,
the European Commission has called repeatedly for reform of the
governance of the internet's key global resources.
In June this year, the European Commission called for Icann to
be more accountable to the international community, to clarify its
decision-making, and to ensure a clearer role for governments in
defining public policy aspects of Icann policy-making.
Reding claimed reform was necessary to assure public policy
objectives such as freedom of expression and to encourage the
creation of a stable, regulated online business environment.
"Today's announcement indicates that the US shares many of these
concerns and objectives," Reding said.
But the European Parliament is debating a clause known as
Amendment 138, which guarantees the so-called net neutrality
principle. This means that no one would be able to interfere with a
user's right to enjoy all the benefits (and risks) of internet
access without a court order.
The amendment forms part of a wide telecoms package that would
create a single telecommunications market in Europe.
Some MEPs want to scrap the amendment to make it easier to
police the internet. Net activists such as
La Quadrature du Net
argue that the amendment is essential to retain the web's ability
to generate wealth and protect users' online privacy.
A further increase in political control of the internet is
expected in November. Government representatives and lobby groups
will meet in Sharm el Sheikh to endorse the continuation of the
Internet Governance
Forum (IGF), an international talking shop. The IGF has been
trying to set government policy agendas on internet-related
activities since 2006.
Reding said the commission wanted the IGF to continue. "It is
the only place where all internet-related topics can be addressed
by a wide range of stakeholders from all over the world, including
parliamentarians," she said.