Core Internet Institutions Abandon US Government

[Renegade]

Good? Bad?

http://www.internetgovernance.org/2013/10/11/the-core-internet-institutions-abandon-the-us-government/

In Montevideo, Uruguay this week, the Directors of all the major Internet organizations – ICANN, the Internet Engineering Task Force, the Internet Architecture Board, the World Wide Web Consortium, the Internet Society, all five of the regional Internet address registries – turned their back on the US government. With striking unanimity, the organizations that actually develop and administer Internet standards and resources initiated a break with 3 decades of U.S. dominance of Internet governance.

A statement released by this group called for “accelerating the globalization of ICANN and IANA functions, towards an environment in which all stakeholders, including all governments, participate on an equal footing.” That part of the statement constituted an explicit rejection of the US Commerce Department’s unilateral oversight of ICANN through the IANA contract. It also indirectly attacks the US unilateral approach to the Affirmation of Commitments, the pact between the US and ICANN which provides for periodic reviews of its activities by the GAC and other members of the ICANN community. (The Affirmation was conceived as an agreement between ICANN and the US exclusively – it would not have been difficult to allow other states to sign on as well.)

I can't see any government involvement being a good thing. We're talking about technical standards and the like, and governments are nothing but politics and bickering. How is politicizing the Internet a good thing?

From the frying pan into the fire...

(And that's ignoring other ICANN problems, etc.)

[40hz]

Much of the governance of the web (and other things) defaulted to the United States because the general perception was that the United States was law abiding, rational, predictable and fair.

However, now that the most recent manifestation of the American government has demonstrated a marked tendency to ignore the rule of law, and behave in an arbitrary and capricious (i.e. irrational) manner, many nations (who often decided to take the easy way out and "allow" the USA to handle anything they'd rather not spend the time or money on dealing with) are now realizing they're going to need to become much more directly active in the administration of their global lives and institutions.

Probably not a bad thing to have happen for all parties involved - including the USA.

[IainB]

^^ Yes. What @40hz said. Spot-on.      (Not bad for a turtle!)

The country which is presently the de facto guardian and custodian of the web infrastructure standards would seem to have demonstrated - for whatever reason - a gross inability/incompetence to perform the role with trust, and with responsible, detached, objective, rational, and ethical policies.
The change to a new, trustworthy and international custodianship can't happen quickly enough for my liking, though I would suggest that the thing will probably still be at potential risk of being hijacked or skewed by self-interested parties in (say) the US economic/commercial hegemony, or a totalitarian new world order, or other religio-political ideology - for example, as in those other international bodies, the World Bank, the World Trade Organisation, the UN, the IPCC, or the EU.

If you need evidence to support this suggested potential risk you could probably spot the usual suspects as being behind the issues discussed in the other DCF thread Internet freedoms restrained - SOPA/PIPA/OPEN/ACTA/CETA/PrECISE-related updates

Whether the end result of all this will be a better form of freedom and security on the Internet than at present is probably a moot question.

[x16wda]

a new, trustworthy and international custodianship...

... and of course we've never seen a trustworthy custodianship usurped...

[Renegade]

Much of the governance of the web (and other things) defaulted to the United States because the general perception was that the United States was law abiding, rational, predictable and fair.

Hehehe! And how wrong we've been proven!

However, now that the most recent manifestation of the American government has demonstrated a marked tendency to ignore the rule of law, and behave in an arbitrary and capricious (i.e. irrational) manner, many nations (who often decided to take the easy way out and "allow" the USA to handle anything they'd rather not spend the time or money on dealing with) are now realizing they're going to need to become much more directly active in the administration of their global lives and institutions.

With you so far...

Probably not a bad thing to have happen for all parties involved - including the USA.

Who are "all"? The same kleptocrats that exist everywhere else?

The US is very far from being the only "bad guy".

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/10/12/porn-filter-canada_n_4086217.html

See! Douchewaddery exists even in Canada!

I don't know what would be best, but I know that if you have governments involved, things ain't goin' ta werk out 2 good.

[Renegade]

a new, trustworthy and international custodianship...

... and of course we've never seen a trustworthy custodianship usurped...

I worry about that.

[Carol Haynes]

Much of the governance of the web (and other things) defaulted to the United States because the general perception was that the United States was law abiding, rational, predictable and fair.

ROFLMAO on ALL counts

[rgdot]

I can be a good custodian

[40hz]

Much of the governance of the web (and other things) defaulted to the United States because the general perception was that the United States was law abiding, rational, predictable and fair.

ROFLMAO on ALL counts

Even funnier will be be seeing who has the kahunas to claim the role. Because from what I've got reading the news, there ain't any innocent sailors aboard for this trip.

If the EU, the PRC, and the RF are anything to go by, we're in for some great political grandstanding, holier-than-thou rhetoric, and hypocritical posturing before the dust finally settles.

I bet when it's over, it will end up being what the Who was talking about in the song Won't Get Fooled Again:

There's nothing in the street
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Is now the parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again
No, no!

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss

[Carol Haynes]

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again
No, no!

Heady days - I remember them well!

[IainB]

a new, trustworthy and international custodianship...

... and of course we've never seen a trustworthy custodianship usurped...

...and pigs might grow wings!

[Renegade]

Tech Dirt weighs in on the topic:

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20131014/08210124863/key-internet-institutions-ditch-us-leadership-brazil-to-host-global-summit-to-draw-up-new-governance-model.shtml

Always worth reading Tech Dirt, so no point in posting a quote.

[Carol Haynes]

Tech Dirt weighs in on the topic:

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20131014/08210124863/key-internet-institutions-ditch-us-leadership-brazil-to-host-global-summit-to-draw-up-new-governance-model.shtml

Always worth reading Tech Dirt, so no point in posting a quote.

Interesting article - also some interesting links in the comments section.

[IainB]

Tech Dirt weighs in on the topic:
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20131014/08210124863/key-internet-institutions-ditch-us-leadership-brazil-to-host-global-summit-to-draw-up-new-governance-model.shtml
Always worth reading Tech Dirt, so no point in posting a quote.

Very interesting. Thanks for pointing it out. I had not got around to skimming the 186 posts in the TechDirt feed. I might have missed it anyway.

[Renegade]

The Tech Dirt article has one mention of the ITU in passing. THOSE are some of the people that have no businesses whatsoever being anywhere near any of this. They are dangerous. No good can come from them having ANY involvement. Even for them to be spectators is too much. Did I mention I loathe the ITU?

[IainB]

^^ Wot U said about the ITU. Yes, 100% agree.

[Stoic Joker]

Tech Dirt weighs in on the topic:

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20131014/08210124863/key-internet-institutions-ditch-us-leadership-brazil-to-host-global-summit-to-draw-up-new-governance-model.shtml

Always worth reading Tech Dirt, so no point in posting a quote.

Then I will, because this quote should be posted on billboards from 'Sea to Shining Sea':

And before anyone tries to blame this latest development on Snowden, let's be clear that the problem is not that this activity has been revealed, but that the NSA was doing it in the first place.

[Vurbal]

The Tech Dirt article has one mention of the ITU in passing. THOSE are some of the people that have no businesses whatsoever being anywhere near any of this. They are dangerous. No good can come from them having ANY involvement. Even for them to be spectators is too much. Did I mention I loathe the ITU?

You'd be hard pressed to find anything to generate more consensus than hating the ITU. Last year they managed to get basically every politician in the nominally free world holding hands and singing Kumbayah. When the Democrat in the White House is in complete agreement with the Republicans in Congress who are marching in lock step with pretty much every elected official in every country that's even marginally our ally you know the people who brought them together are some world class scumbags.

[Renegade]

hating the ITU

What you should be asking is whether it's time to put the ITU out to pasture.

Yes. Unceremoniously. Bullet to the back of the head. Or in the face. Or maybe bludgeoned with a shovel so as to not waste ammunition. In the back fields. Where the stench of the rotting carcass won't bother anyone. And the wildlife can have a free meal. Don't use the shovel to dig a hole - there are hungry animals to be fed. See? It's charity!

When the Democrat in the White House is in complete agreement with the Republicans in Congress who are marching in lock step with pretty much every elected official in every country that's even marginally our ally you know the people who brought them together are some world class scumbags.

[Vurbal]

hating the ITU

What you should be asking is whether it's time to put the ITU out to pasture.

Yes. Unceremoniously. Bullet to the back of the head. Or in the face. Or maybe bludgeoned with a shovel so as to not waste ammunition. In the back fields. Where the stench of the rotting carcass won't bother anyone. And the wildlife can have a free meal. Don't use the shovel to dig a hole - there are hungry animals to be fed. See? It's charity!

I think you're being a little too easy on them but I'm not sure you could be harsh enough without sucking the Internet into the resulting singularity of anger and malice. 

[Renegade]

I think you're being a little too easy on them but I'm not sure you could be harsh enough without sucking the Internet into the resulting singularity of anger and malice. 

What can I say? I'm just a big softie~!

[Vurbal]

I think you're being a little too easy on them but I'm not sure you could be harsh enough without sucking the Internet into the resulting singularity of anger and malice. 

What can I say? I'm just a big softie~!

I don't know about softie but I knew you would appreciate the headline on that article. Sadly that's the sort of thing that doesn't attract the general public like it should but thankfully it gives me an excuse to let my snark flag fly.

[kyrathaba]

ICANN should give governance of their purview over to donationcoder.