US and Europe Traded on the Control of Internet Root
The “root” of the Internet weighs, literally, a few megabytes. However, this file , which lists all the names of top-level domain such as. com, or suffixes in different countries, such as. fr in Web addresses, is at the heart of the Web.
Strategic challenge for the digital life, the root is also a geopolitical point of view. Technically, the administration of the database is assigned to ICANN, the organization responsible for managing domain names. Specifically, it is the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) – dependent on the Icann – which, by contract with the U.S. government has the power to incorporate new extensions.
This agreement should be renewed before the end of September. But U.S. authorities have granted an additional period of six months. As more and more states are trying to seize the opportunity for renegotiation of the attempt to weigh in Internet governance. Hence the question of Milton Mueller, a researcher at Syracuse University in the United States and contributor Site Internet Governance Project : “The new contract will IANA he politicized the IANA? ”
PURSUE NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY ON THE INTERNET
At the end of August, the site specializes Dot-nxt published six papers confidential, drawing the positions of the European Commission concerning the management of Icann and extensions. Funding, transparency of the institution, etc.. The points raised are many, but an entire chapter is devoted to new extensions.
To validate the new generic, Brussels called for a “consensus” first, including the GAC, an advisory body integrated with ICANN that represents the states. The European Commission argues that ICANN should be required to demonstrate a new top level domain “has reached consensus with stakeholders and is supported by a global public interest” , the document says. “Many governments do not understand , or do not accept, it is impossible to exercise national sovereignty on the Internet. If this were the case, nearly 200 countries around the world have their say ” , analyzes Milton Mueller , interviewed by The Monde.fr .
After the publication of these documents, the U.S. Department of Commerce sent a letter on Thursday 1 st September to try to provide guarantees to Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner of the digital society. In this paper, that the Monde.fr could see , the United States refers guarantees focusing on the “transparency” of the institution, and the fight against the “conflict of interest” . “I am aware it is an important issue, and as I said, we’re measuring how we might the inclusion in the contract IANA ” , written Strickling Lawrence , director of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
REFORM TO GIVE MORE WEIGHT TO STATES
In its response, M me Kroes maintains the need for reform “structural” of ICANN. “Ensure capacity for transparent assessment support of the community (including the GAC) for new domain names, seems to be a very important and very urgent ” , said European Commissioner. A meeting is scheduled for late October in Paris with European players. According to the letter of the European Commission, a delegation of the European Union must also meet with U.S. officials.
This is not the first time that the European Commission tries to hear his voice against ICANN. In 2009, Viviane Reding, European Commissioner when the media asked for greater transparency of the American institution, which should make the accounts department of commerce that the United States. But “the Commission’s strategy marks an important inflection , according to Mr. Mueller. Instead of trying to be heard , demanding a greater internationalization of ICANN, Brussels seeks to influence the U.S. government, so that changes its position. ”
LIVE DEBATE About XXX
In a close case, these documents reflect the position of the first European civil servants, responsible for negotiations with the Americans. “They feel that the GAC has become a waste of time because as soon as angry about the Board Directors of ICANN slice ” , notes the source. “Allegations that the European Commission would seek to put their hands on ICANN, or even try to take control of the Internet, are not true , says at Monde.fr, Jonathan Todd , spokesman for Neelie Kroes . What is true is that the Commission was a strong advocate of multi-stakeholder model for years. ”
But Europe is not alone in trying to s’ to ensure greater control of the root. The debate is also very strong in the United States. After the controversy related to the introduction of addresses. Xxx for pornographic material, the Obama administration has also called the “consensus” for new extensions.
In addition to state agencies, brands are trying finally to hear their voice. Several associations of American advertisers, such as the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), threatened to initiate legal proceedings against ICANN: “lobbies of intellectual property, who see a dim view of the increasing number of extensions” , notes Milton Mueller.
THE “BRICS” ALSO WANT TO WEIGH
The five emerging countries grouped under the acronym BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) also intend to know their views about the governance of the Net. With nearly 500 million Internet users, China is a great power of the Web, but it takes little in the consultative body representing governments, the GAC. “China threatens to create its own Internet, but nothing no evidence that she really wants to run a root alternative. It instead uses it as a tool of pressure ” , said the American researcher.
Other Brics, such as India, Brazil and South Africa, evoke in turn the creation of a new tool for global supervision. This body would not only be focused on the powers of ICANN, but also other institutions, such as the IETF , charged with participating in the development of Internet standards, or the International Telecommunication Union (ITU ).
Finally, after contract negotiations IANA, “is the status quo should the win . The only thing that could give the government, the notion of public interest and consensus This is potentially problematic … ” warns Milton Mueller.
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