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US to Lose Control Over Internet Root Servers?

This will likely be the year when Bush hands over control of the Internet to the UN. It's going to be a very divisive and potentially disrupting change.

The rest of the world has become uncomfortable enough with US control of the Internet that most countries have decided they would rather see the UN oversee key Internet infrastructure than the US. The issue goes to a UN summit next month where it will be decided, undoubtedly not in favor of the US position.

Things have worked well up to this point. There isn't single a good rationale to change what has worked so well. There are many different reasons though, some of them reasonable. Some countries don't like the inability to filter content, or to allow official eavesdropping. Some countries worry about the impact of US-driven unilateral technical changes affecting their infrastructure. Some want a bigger say in decisions that affect them. Some just want more power over others.

My worry is that major disruptions could be coming in the next few years, disruptions that force technical progress to a halt and cause economic troubles. All because the US failed in negotiations. I hope I'm wrong.
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Posted by Mark Saturday, October 08, 2005 11:23:00 AM | permalink |