The UN is creating an internet governance working group.
Many countries, particularly the U.S., U.K. and members of the European Union (E.U.), support the private sector-led Internet management arrangement provided under the aegis of the U.S.-based Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). But others, notably Brazil, China and numerous developing countries, see a need for some soft of inter-governmental framework, preferably under a U.N. umbrella.
I’m sorry do these people not get what the Internet is? Now I’m not going to necessarily trumpet the virtues of ICANN (although I think they’ve done a good job) but a UN working group? Excuse me whilst my inner geek hurls.
The last thing the Internet needs is further governmental involvement, at any level. The net is what it is, take it or leave it.
Given that the western hemisphere owns or is responsible for nearly all the content and technology on the net (sure it may have been invented by CERN but the internet is what it is today thanks to technologies developed and implemented largely in America) I’m going to recommend that China and any other nation intent upon bringing this administrative monstrosity to life, pound sand for a bit.
Domain attribution has been a source of constant controversy but has largely been well handled by ICANN. I’d certainly prefer their hand on the tiller to any agency of the UN.
I can hear it now:
“Taiwan does not deserve its own domain because it is an inalienable part of China!”
Later
John
Posted by John Swaine at November 14, 2004 09:10 PM | TrackBack