US retains control of internet

Sunday December 04, 2005 19:15

by R. Isible

The Register publishes Condoleeza Rice's bullying letter

The text of Condoleeza Rice and Gutierrez's letter to Jack Straw (while he was acting president of the EU) is apparently written in unusually strong language for a diplomatic missive. It's published in full on The Register along with a brief commentary.

Why should you care? ICANN is the body that decides the fundamental structure of the internet. It's been controversial /within/ the USA because it reduced the role of non-commercial representatives (e.g. Karl Auerbach
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/policy/2002/12/05/karl.html
)

One of the immediately public aspects of it's role is the assignment of address spaces ( i.e. how many IP numbers a person or organisation can get in a block) and the resolution of arguments over domain names (ICANN control this because they run the servers that translate domain names into IP addresses). As things stand these aspects are completely in the hands of US commercial interests.

Given the strength of importance that Rice/Gutierrez express on this issue it's a strong hint for the EU and China that they perceive commercial advantage in retaining control.

The implications for spying on foreign commerce (which the US has been caught (in co-operation with the UK) practicing against EU interests in their Echelon program are probably not escaping anyone either.

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Comments (1 of 1)

Condoleeza must think European leaders are stupid

by Justin Morahan - Peace People (ind)

Mon Dec 05, 2005 12:50

In her patronosing and insulting letter to the President of the European union, Condoleeza Rice in effect tells Europe that The US control of the Internet is better than any control that would be shared by Europe or other countries.
All the succss of the Internet, a la Rice, is thanks to its US control.
She must think that European leaders are naive, stupid, spineless kowtowers - and she is probably right, given so many backdowns by the latter when Bush and his consort-in-arms lay down the law.

They shout at the man of Straw:
"when I ope my mouth, let no dog bark"

And he, like an obedient little doggy, puts his tail between his legs and scuttles away.

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US retains control of internet

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