Brussels, 04/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding has once again called for a new independent body that is more representative of all nations to manage the internet worldwide. In a video posted on her website this week, Reding calls on US President Barack Obama to reorient the American position on internet governance, currently managed by ICANN, which operates under an agreement with the US Department of Commerce. “The time to act is now. And Europe will be ready to support President Obama in his efforts,” she says.
The internet management agreement between the company and the US government expires on 30 September. “This opens the door for full privatisation of ICANN; and it also raises the question of to whom ICANN should be accountable, as from 1 October,” states Reding. She refers to the internet governance model recommended by the European Union: a fully privatised and independent ICANN, transparent and subject to effective judicial review, and a multilateral forum meeting at least twice per year to discuss general internet governance policy issues and able to make recommendations to ICANN where appropriate. This forum would be geographically balanced, with North American, South American, European, African, Asian and Australian representatives. It would provide swift reaction in case of threats to the stability, security and openness of the internet. The Clinton administration showed signs of openness, with the progressive privatisation of ICANN, notes Reding, hoping that the new US president will follow a similar path after the hard line taken by George Bush. “In the long run, it is not defendable that the government department of only one country has oversight of an internet function which is used by hundreds of millions of people in countries all over the world,” the commissioner comments. On 6 May, the European Commission is holding a public hearing on the future of internet governance to sound out the various players. (I.L./transl.rt)