Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Subscribe
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Subscribe
    Home Latest News

      U.N. Members Look to Loosen U.S. Hold on Web

      Written by

      Matthew Broersma
      Published September 30, 2005
      Share
      Facebook
      Twitter
      Linkedin

        eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

        The United Nations summit drew to a close on Friday with national governments locked in an unresolved dispute over future governance of the Internet.

        A number of governments called for the United States to relinquish its unilateral control over Internet governance, in favor of a new body under the oversight of the international community or the United Nations. The U.S. opposes any such change.

        U.S. Ambassador David Gross made the countrys position clear last month while speaking before the U.S. Congressional Internet Caucus on the World Summit on the Information Society and Internet Governance. “The United Nations will not be in charge of the Internet. Period,” Gross said.

        This weeks meeting, Prepcon-3 in Geneva, was designed to formulate the final document that will be put forward by the international community at the WSIS in November. The inconclusive end to the meeting leaves the WSIS without a finished document. An unscheduled three-day meeting is to be called, possibly just before the WSIS begins, in another attempt to resolve the sticking points.

        At stake is whether the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to hold unilateral authority over Internet governance. The U.S. government was left virtually isolated on the issue after the EU (European Union) on Wednesday submitted a proposal calling for changes.

        “In reviewing the adequacy of existing institutional arrangements for Internet Governance and policy debate we agree that adjustments need to be made,” stated the UK delegation, on behalf of the EU.

        It was the first time the EU has deviated from its backing for the U.S. position of supporting the status quo. The proposal evidently took the U.S. representative unaware, according to attendees. “They responded immediately afterward with a hand-scrawled intervention. I think he was writing it while the EU proposal was being read out,” said Sarah Parkes, a spokeswoman for the ITU (International Telecommunication Union), the U.N.s telecommunications body and the lead organizing agency behind the summit.

        /zimages/3/28571.gifTo combat crime and terrorism, the EU and member states have proposed that all phone and Internet traffic be logged and stored. Click here to read more.

        In response to the EUs proposal, the U.S. statement read: “The U.S. is committed to take no action that affects the security and stability of the Domain Name System.”

        The WSIS is designed to address a large number of fundamental Internet issues, allowing governments to coordinate on distribution of costs, mechanisms for international dispute resolution, ensuring stability and countering cybercrime, controlling spam, consumer rights and freedom of expression. “Its not just a platform for future IT development, but a foundation for future national legislation as well,” Parkes said. “They need to base their actions on cybercrime, spam and other issues on the legitimacy provided by such a document.”

        But the real debate has come down to a handful of questions regarding control of the Internet: management of the DNS root zone, technical oversight of Internet infrastructure and the involvement of governments. The DNS root zone is the top level of the Internets DNS hierarchy, including the 13 root nameservers that handle requests for top-level domain addresses.

        Currently ICANN (the International Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers), a private non-profit company based in California, oversees IP address space allocation, domain name system management and other technical aspects. It is under the authority of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

        Among ICANNs many critics is the U.N.s WGIG (Working Group on Internet Governance), which last month published proposals for how Internet governance could be reformed. The proposal formed the basis for the discussions at Prepcon-3.

        WGIG put forward four options for governance reform:

        • Creating a new U.N.-based Global Internet Council overseen by governments and other stakeholders, to take over from ICANN;
        • Leaving ICANN in charge but strengthening its Governmental Advisory Committee;
        • Leaving ICANN in a narrow technical role but setting up an International Internet Council to take over oversight from the U.S.; and
        • Creating three new bodies for technical management, debate by governments, businesses and the public, and Internet-related public policy.

        A group of governments called the “Likeminded Group”, including Brazil, Iran, Cuba, China and others, joined forces to demand an end to U.S. control, but the EU was not expected to sympathize. Following its Wednesday proposal, the EU is now in discussions with the Likeminded Group on a joint proposal for an alternative governance system.

        /zimages/3/28571.gifCompanies are resisting Congressional efforts to mandate more Internet security. Click here to read more.

        The U.S. said the EUs proposal would take Internet governance out of the private sector and put it in the hands of governments.

        On Friday Prepcon-3 participants formally announced they did not expect to complete the WSIS document by the end of the meeting. They planned to complete the less controversial aspects of the document by the end of the day on Friday, however. Debate at the new pre-WSIS meeting will be limited to the more controversial points.

        “The U.S. has to make some move towards everybody else for us to get a document that would be satisfactory to the other delegations,” said the ITUs Parkes. “There is every reason to think they might do that. The root zone system may be non-negotiable, but there may be some other points on which they can compromise.”

        The WSIS will take place in Tunis, Tunisia, Nov. 16-18.

        /zimages/3/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest news, views and analysis of technologys impact on government and politics.

        Matthew Broersma
        Matthew Broersma

        Get the Free Newsletter!

        Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

        Get the Free Newsletter!

        Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

        MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

        Artificial Intelligence

        9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

        Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
        AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
        Read more
        Cloud

        RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

        Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
        RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
        Read more
        Artificial Intelligence

        8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

        Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
        Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
        Read more
        Latest News

        Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

        James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
        I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
        Read more
        Video

        Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

        James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
        I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
        Read more
        Logo

        eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

        Facebook
        Linkedin
        RSS
        Twitter
        Youtube

        Advertisers

        Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

        Advertise with Us

        Menu

        • About eWeek
        • Subscribe to our Newsletter
        • Latest News

        Our Brands

        • Privacy Policy
        • Terms
        • About
        • Contact
        • Advertise
        • Sitemap
        • California – Do Not Sell My Information

        Property of TechnologyAdvice.
        © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

        Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.