Another step to a New World Order happened quietly yesterday as the US relinquished its total control of the Internet. Opening the door for global cooperation and administration of Internet use in their respective nations, the move will allow foreign nations to share in our wonderful little creation that is the Internet. Just a month after the President sought authority to shut the Internet down in the case of a cyber attack, we are now placing much of that power in the hands of other nations. Those who support the move consider this a power play for the US as many nations had threatened to configure forks and/or effectively take over portions of the Internet had we not been open to the discussion. So, in typical progressive pacifist fashion, we consider it a demonstration of strength to give away that which they would have taken… awesome!!
After complaints about American dominance of the internet and growing disquiet in some parts of the world, Washington has said it will relinquish some control over the way the network is run and allow foreign governments more of a say in the future of the system.
Icann – the official body that ultimately controls the development of the internet thanks to its oversight of web addresses such as .com, .net and .org – said today that it was ending its agreement with the US government.
The deal, part of a contract negotiated with the US department of commerce, effectively pushes California-based Icann towards a new status as an international body with greater representation from companies and governments around the globe.
Icann had previously been operating under the auspices of the American government, which had control of the net thanks to its initial role in developing the underlying technologies used for connecting computers together.
But the fresh focus will give other countries a more prominent role in determining what takes place online, and even the way in which it happens – opening the door for a virtual United Nations,where many officials gather to discuss potential changes to the internet.
While the issue reached critical mass in emerging economies such as China, it is not the only country that has lobbied for a change. Earlier this year European officials said that they did not think it was proper for America to retain so much control over the global computer network.
Viviane Reding, the EU’s commissioner for information society and media, said she was pleased that Washington chose to make the shift.
“I welcome the US administration’s decision to adapt Icann’s key role in internet governance to the reality of the 21st century,” she said. “If effectively and transparently implemented, this reform can find broad acceptance among civil society, businesses and governments alike.”
The new agreement comes into force immediately. It replaces the old version which had been in place since 1998 and was scheduled to expire today.
Beckstrom suggested that bringing more countries to the table was the best way of ensuring the long term future of the internet
Does this mean they are going to take your blog away?