UN Online freedom resolution passes despite opposition from Russia, China et al

The United Nations officially condemned the practice of countries shutting down access to the internet at a meeting of the Human Rights Council on Friday. A resolution [PDF] entitled The promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the Internet effectively extends human rights held offline to the internet. It was passed by consensus, but …

Senators Cruz, Lankford, Lee, Duffy Continue Fighting IANA Transition

Send letter to NTIA to investigate apparent violation of federal law in preparation for Internet transition   WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.), today sent a letter to National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Assistant Secretary Lawrence Strickling, questioning the agency’s apparent …

Senators Thune, Schatz warn ICANN Board not to stymie accountability demands as it jeopardizes IANA transition

US Senators Chairman John Thune (R-SD) and colleague Brian Schatz [D-HI] have once again written to the ICANN Board concerning interference of the accountability steps and proposals to the IANA transition as it would jeopardizes IANA transition. The ICANN Board has twice rejected proposals that would improve board accountability and the ability of the multistakholder …

Many hurdles towards the ICANN- IANA privatization that will not happen anyway says Bekele

IANA transition despite jumping many hurdles may not be happening in the next few years, at least not before, thanks to the issue getting the attention of the U.S. Congress. In an article on the Hill, Sophia Bekele also adds that should the transition happen, it will give some governments who want more power within …

House Approves Bill for Congress to Oversight IANA Transition

“The active oversight by Congress adds another guardrail to this process and it demonstrates that the United States takes this transition very, very seriously,” said Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), who chairs the committee’s communications and technology subcommittee. The House Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), on Wednesday 17 June 2017 approved …

TheNewAmerican: UN October Summit Reopens Grab for Global Internet Control

According to a recent report by the French news organization Agence France-Presse, “US officials are pledging to fight a fresh effort to give a UN agency authority to regulate the Internet, two years after a huge diplomatic battle over the issue.” The AFP story refers to the upcoming Plenipotentiary Conference in Busan, South Korea, of …

The Obama Administration Must Act Fast to Prevent the Internet’s Fragmentation

Here in Sydney, Australia, where I’m attending a conference of CFR’s Council of Councils—a global network of prominent think tanks—a dialogue about the future of Internet governance has highlighted brewing controversy about the management of cyberspace. The conversation has convinced me that the Obama administration has a closing window of opportunity to safeguard international support …

Group mentality and ICANN GAC Advice: Another case of African misdirected and treacherous destiny

. Is Africa falling to another trap of group mentality and uninformed choices? Traditionally nations and especially when taken as continents have been known to take collective decisions. Just recently in the WCIT Dubai, there was mass failure of the delegates to agree on a treaty that had been crafted to replace the existing International …