The Early Ground Offensives in Internet Governance

Abstract

The second stage of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Tunisia in November 2005 saw the long-standing debate over who should govern the Internet reach an apparent culmination. The vast majority of parties involved (over 10,000 people from over 170 countries) announced their acquiescence to the final agreement, which allowed ICANN to maintain responsibility for domain name allocation, while introducing a non-binding multi-stakeholder Internet Governance Forum (IGF) to be set up alongside.¹ However, this current paper will show that the agreement provides limited assistance to the ongoing discussion and resolution on Internet Governance, and furthermore that unless the key players—particularly the USA—alter their stance, the Internet is in danger of fragmentation and gridlock, which is a genuine possibility unless the governance of the Internet moves to an International level away from exclusive US control. The conclusions made in Tunisia are not fully representative and the perception of US control has not been removed. Until this is revisited and altered, the Internet remains in considerable threat of break-up and potential gridlock.

Notes

1. World Summit on the Information Society ‘Tunis agenda for the information society’ Document WSIS-05/TUNIS/DOC/6, 18 November 2005, available at http://www.itu.int/wis/docs2/tunis/off/6rev1.html (accessed 12 December 2005).

2. Ibid.

3. Report of the Working Group on Internet Governance (June 2005), available at http://www.wgig.org/docs/WGIGREPORT.pdf (accessed 4 March 2006). The Report provided a ‘working definition of Internet Governance; specifically: ‘Internet governance is the development and application by Governments, the private sector and civil society, in their respective roles, of shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making procedures, and programmes that shape the evolution and use of the Internet’ (p 4).

4. Ibid, p 3.

5. Ibid, p 5.

6. Ibid, pp 13–16.

7. Reuters Press Release ‘More lawmakers back US control of the Internet’ 21 October 2005, available at http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/10/21/more_lawmakers_back_us_control_of_internet/ (accessed 24 October 2005).

8. BBC News Press Release ‘US resists radical Net overhaul’ 20 October 2005, available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/technology/4357360.htm (accessed 20 October 2005).

9. B Thompson ‘Whose net is it anyway?’ BBC Technology News Press Release, 19 August 2005, available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/technology/4165920.stm (accessed 9 March 2006).

10. CNET News.com Press Release ‘Kofi Annan says UN won't “takeover” the Internet’ 7 November 2005, available at http://news.com.com/2061-10789_3-5937659.html (accessed 11 November 2005).

11. BBC News Press Release ‘US heads for Internet showdown’ 15 November 2005, available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/technology/4436428.stm (accessed 15 November 2005).

12. BBC News Press Release ‘US retains hold of the Internet’ 16 November 2005, available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/technology/4441544.stm (accessed 16 November 2005).

13. ZdNet Press Release ‘Internet governance battles to continue’ 18 November 2005, available at http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/0,39020369,39237383,00.htm (accessed 18 November 2005).

14. Department of Trade and Industry Press Release ‘UK Minister welcomes Internet Governance agreement’ 18 November 2005, available at http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/detail.asp?ReleaseID=178131&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False (accessed 10 March 2005).

15. Public Technology Press Release ‘EU pushes internationalisation of Internet governance at Tunis World Summit’ 17 November 2005, available at http://www.publictechnology.net/print.php?sid=4003 (accessed 17 November 2005).

16. Inter Press Service ‘Internet governance: NGOs disappointed with declaration’ 16 November 2005, available at http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/2005511170550.html (accessed 18 November 2005).

17. Ag-IP Press Release ‘Private sector welcomes decision on Internet governance and creation of Forum’ 16 November 2005, available at http://www.ag-ip-news.com/PrintArticle.asp?Art_ID=2352 (accessed 13 March 2006).

18. R Blakely ‘Tunis talks find international compromise’ The Times 16 November 2005, p 8.

19. Out-Law.com News Press Release ‘US wins net governance battle’ 16 November 2005, available at http://www.out-law.com/page-6351-theme=print (accessed 17 November 2005).

20. A copy of the letter from Condoleezza Rice can be found at: ‘Read the letter that won the Internet governance battle’ 2 December 2005, available at http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/12/02/rice_eu_letter/ (accessed 5 December 2005).

21. See BBC News Press Release ‘China tightens grip on web news’ 26 September 2005, available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4282510.stm (accessed 7 October 2005).

22. BBC News Press Release ‘China and the break-up of the net’ (7 March 2005), available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/technology/4779660.stm (accessed 8 March 2006).

23. T Demopoulos, ‘Govern ‘Net globally’ USA Today 14 November 2005, available at http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinions/editorials/2005-11-14-oppose_x.htm (accessed 17 November 2005).

24. BBC News Press Release ‘US resists radical Net overhaul’ 20 October 2005, available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/technology/4357360.htm (accessed 20 October 2005).

25. BBC News Press Release ‘The net and politicians don't mix’ 16 November 2005, available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/po/pr/fr/-/1/hi/technology/4438664.stm (accessed 17 November 2005).

26. Op cit, note 1, p 16.

27. ‘Victory claims abound for global web accord’ International Herald Tribune 16 November 2005, available at http://www.iht.com/bin/print_ipub.php?file=/articles/2005/11/16/business/net.php (accessed 17 November 2005).

28. Ibid.

29. Op cit, note 26.

30. The Register Press Release ‘ITU refuses to accept net governance agreement’ 21 November 2005, available at http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/21/Utsumi_rejection/print.html (accessed 23 November 2005).