Note: This column represents the opinions
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Few of us can doubt that the Net has become an incredible valuable resource
and plays a key role in many people's working and personal lives.
It makes sense therefore, that he who controls the Net holds a huge amount
of power in his hands.
But just who should control the Net?
That's the question that was up for debate at a UN-sponsored global forum that
has just taken place.
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Ever since the internet was invented by a former vice-president (joke!), its
overall control has rested in the hands of the USA but more recently there's
been a groundswell of dissatisfaction with this situation.
A group of other nations, including the EU, China and Saudi Arabia felt that
something as important as the Net should not remain under the sole control of
the US and that it ought to be held by a more non-partisan group.
What we're talking about here of course, is the root nameserver - the collection
of magic boxes that provide root-level navigation associated with all the
top-level domains we use. Right now, this top-level space is managed by ICANN,
an organisation formed by the Americans in 1998 and which is, despite some
pretense at being an "open" group, largely under US supervision.
Naturally the USA was strongly opposed to relinquishing what amounts to "ultimate power"
over the Net, arguing that to do so would introduce a much greater level of
uncertainty and reduced reliability.
For some time it appeared as if a stalemate was brewing, both sides sticking
to their guns and unwilling to concede any ground.
But, happy-happy, joy-joy, it seems as if some kind of compromise has finally
been achieved with the announcement of an "Internet Governance Forum" who will
be tasked with the role of... well, um, err... does anyone actually know?
In fact, once you get through all the spin and politics it becomes pretty obvious
that nothing much has actually changed at all.
ICANN will still handle the day-to-day administration of "the net" as it has done
for several years and this new group will actually be little more than a bunch
of talking heads with no real power to change or control anything.
But, in the wonderful world of politics and diplomacy everything is sweet.
Other countries can pretend that they have a say. The US can continue
"business as usual" and everyone concerned goes home with a smile on their face,
having consumed inordinate amounts of booze and more than a few free lunches.
But maybe that was the best outcome. After all, when it comes to something
as important as the Net an old saying springs to mind: if it works, don't fix it!
But should the USA cede more of control of the Net to other nations? Is ICANN
an asset or a liability to the growth and freedom of the Net?
Does anyone really care -- so long as you can still download all the illegal
music and porn you want?
Tell us all and see what others have to say in
The Aardvark Forums
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