Who gets to run the Internet?
The Register
“Will December make or break the Internet?”
By Kieren McCarthy
Nov. 24, 2003.
In December,
the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) will bring together the heads of over 60 governments to discuss governance of the Internet. “The United States, Europe and English-speaking partners such as Australia favour the existing private-company organisation, ICANN. Whereas developing nations, China, India, Brazil, South Africa and others all want a recognised international body to run the show, ITU.”
Will the Internet be run by a private, California company that has a history of making decisions that affect public policy based on commerical interests, or by an international governmental organization? This article outlines the players and what is at stake.