Control of Internet Back on Int'l Agenda

By Patrick Goodenough
CNSNews.com International Editor
November 13, 2007

(CNSNews.com) - A United Nations-sponsored meeting in Rio de Janeiro this week is providing a platform for those who want the United States to cede "control" of the Internet.

Developing nations led by China, Brazil, India and others have been calling for years for the U.S. to relinquish its indirect supervision of the Internet's core systems. The campaign came to a head at a major U.N. conference in Tunisia two years ago, but the U.S. managed to fend it off.

The conference ended with a compromise decision to leave matters as they stand for the time being, while establishing an Internet Governance Forum (IGF) for governments, businesses and other "stakeholders" to discuss issues related to Internet governance. Unlike most U.N. meetings, the IGF does not negotiate or make decisions.

This week's four-day meeting in Brazil, bringing together some 1,700 participants from some 90 countries, is the second annual IGF. At the first, in Athens a year ago, the issue of U.S. supervision took a back seat -- but not this time. Pushed by the host nation, Brazil, and others, the U.S. supervision issue looks set to feature strongly.

"Without the participation and cooperation of all, the Internet cannot be sure nor stable," Brazil's Minister of Science and Technology, Sergio Rezende, told the gathering's opening session on Monday.

"That's why we defend Internet governance that is representative and balanced," he said. "We stand for a type of governance which is not the preserve of any particular country's government."

"The Internet is transnational," said Brazilian Culture Minister Gilberto Gil. "It cannot be under the control of a country ... to deal with these issues, we need perhaps to think about extending the mandate of the United Nations on the subject." A transcript of the remarks was made available by the Brazilian government.
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