United States cedes control over the Internet
Forty years after the creation of the Internet’s forerunner, the body which now controls it has gained its independence. The United States has agreed to give up some of its controls over the net’s governing body, ICANN.
Created in 1998, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers was set up by the U.S. government which claimed some historical ownership of the Internet. The net is generally agreed to have developed from ARPANET, a network set up by the Defense Department in October 1969.
To date, ICANN’s powers have derived from a series of three-year agreements with the U.S. government. While ICANN had decision-making powers, it was subject to review by the U.S., specifically the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
The two sides have now replaced the agreements with an “affirmation of commitments” which takes effect today. The document, which is not subject to a time limit, declares that ICANN is independent. In return for this, it must agree to remain a private, non-profit group and to have its activities reviewed by the international Internet community.
As well as asking for public feedback on its proposals, ICANN will now be reviewed by international panels dealing with accountability, competition and security. These will include representatives of national governments with the U.S. holding a permanent seat on the accountability panel.
The changes are particular welcome news to the European Union official in charge of information policy. Back in May Viviane Reding called for ICANN to be 100 percent privatized and argued that the group should ultimately be accountable to an international tribunal.
The changes won’t immediately affect the system used for domain names and IP addresses. That’s covered by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority which, though operated by ICANN, is subject to a separate agreement with the U.S. government, due to expire in 2011.
Related Posts:
