Calls At UN For An International Body To Prevent Internet Control

Opinions were divided in a United Nations consultation yesterday in New York on enhanced cooperation of public policy issues pertaining to the internet, whether two bodies on the issue are needed. [Updated: proposal uploaded.]

Discussions reflected that the multi-stakeholder Internet Governance Forum (which is in the process of having its mandate extended for another 5 years) already addresses many of these issues. But the IGF lacks a decision-making power.

Brazil called for an international body to allow governments to multilaterally address efforts by some to control the internet in reaction to Wikileaks situation, with an eye to keeping the internet open, free, innovative and with sufficient privacy. The Brazilian delegate insisted this is not a call for an “internet takeover” of the internet. Brazil is joined by India and South Africa.

ICANN’s legal status “remains problematic,” the statement from India, Brazil and South Africa said. “The fact that only one country, instead of the international community of States, is the provider and guarantor of the management of names and numbers of the Internet in all countries contravenes established UN principles and universally accepted tenets of multilateralism.”

As the issues have not been discussed from a policy perspective among UN member states due to the absence of a platform to do so, they said, it is “necessary for governments to be provided a formal platform under the U.N. that is mandated to discuss these issues.” This platform would complement the Internet Governance Forum.

This would likely refer to the United States, which has a unique influence over the internet through its relationship with VeriSign, the manager of the .com domain, and through its arrangement with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The US government and some US companies have reacted strongly and unilaterally to Wikileaks.

The US for its part yesterday opposed a government-only Internet Governance Forum, citing an “imbalance” without all stakeholders involved in process.

The Internet Governance Forum arose from the 2003-2005 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).

India, Brazil, South Africa proposal is here [pdf].

Webcast is here. (Brazil, US start at about 2 hours) [corrected!]