The United States Commerce Department has renewed its agreement with ICANN, but has installed provisions to give ICANN more autonomy.
The issue of the United State’s control over the internet and ICANN has been heated over the past couple years. Although the United States was instrumental in inventing the internet and web as we know it, many countries have become cocerned that the U.S. has too much control over what is now an institutional medium. The Commerce Department’s extension of ICANN’s agreement gives ICANN more autonomy. Additionally, a review will be conducted in 18 months to determine if ICANN should become free of U.S. government oversight.
Although the United State’s grip over ICANN isn’t perfect, I’m always cautious about changing a system that, despite some flaws, works. I fear the day China has a say in censoring the internet across its borders.
I’m not alone. In the 2006 Domain Name Wire Survey, only 38% of respondents favored handing control of ICANN over to an international body. I should note that 83% of the survey respondents lived outside the U.S.
Granted, making ICANN independent doesn’t necessarily mean handing it over to an international body similar the the United Nations. But it’s one possibility.
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