Who is in charge of the Internet?

On September 28, 2005, the European Union introduced a proposal for a change in who is in charge of the Internet. The EU position calls for the creation of an international body to oversee Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The EU also proposed the creation of a multinational entity to oversee and discuss imporant issues related to Internet policy. Under the EU proposal a multilateral entity would be formed from representatives of governments, the private sector, and civil society organizations (NGOs). Click here for a vivid report.

Actually, the chairman of the upcoming UN summit in Tunis that will discuss the issue is Mr. Yoshio Utsumi, secretary-general of International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN agency that leads the discussions about this issue.

For details, read the ITU background report (pdf).

Currently, the private American body ICANN, based in California, can make almost all the decisions regarding the Internet, without any way for other countries or others to influence it. This is very regretable and a serious issue. The US is happy with the status quo and seems reluctant to let others have a role. Any thoughts?

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