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U.S. Government Retains ICANN Oversight

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the not-going-anywhere dept.

narramissic writes "ITworld reports that the U.S. Commerce Department will retain ICANN oversight for three more years, although there will be a review in 18 months of ICANN's progress toward becoming a more stable, transparent and accountable organization. The decision comes despite international pressure advocating for the U.S. government to bow out and make ICANN a totally autonomous entity."

5 of 87 comments (clear)

  1. Re:does not compute by diersing · · Score: 3, Insightful
    And who mentioned anything about invisible? or it being an absolute? I think you're seeing words that aren't there.

    I believe accountability leads to transparency and vice-versa. The word transparency in this case doesn't mean invisible, it means the full, accurate, and timely disclosure of information. Which can be accomplished, although not always easily.

  2. Re:does not compute by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful
    I'm sorry, but when has the US Government *ever* had a hand in something that turned into a stable, transparent and accountable organization?

    NIST, the Postal Service, etc, etc. There are many examples, but your irrational US hatred blinds you to this.

  3. International pressure? by MightyYar · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "The NY Times reports that John Derringer of 5th Ave. will retain his pocket change. The decision comes despite numerous homeless people asking him for money."

    --
    W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
  4. Re:One Good thing by eln · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I don't get how that's a good thing. How would eliminating oversight make ICANN into a more stable and accountable organization?

    ICANN is a private entity that makes decisions that affect the Internet at large with almost no public oversight as it is. They are already proposing to add a bunch more ridiculous TLDs to fund their enormous proposed budget increases. It has become clear that new TLDs are not intended to improve the Internet, but are rather ICANN's license to print money. How would things be better if they no longer had anyone to answer to for that sort of garbage?

    Sure, the US government is not great at oversight with regard to technical matters, but it's a lot better than no oversight at all. Given the hatred of the UN on this site, I'm sure no one would ever want ICANN to be brought under their influence, but some sort of international governing body would be a good thing. At this point, the UN is the closes thing we have to something like that.

    Bringing ICANN under international control and creating more opportunity for the public at large to influence their decision making would be a step in the right direction. Ending what little oversight the organization currently has with nothing to replace it is a step in the wrong direction.

  5. Re:does not compute by Stonent1 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Replace "US Government" with "Any Government"