Hello again. Today I want to talk to you about how the internet is
governed today, and how it could be governed in the future.
There are today 1.5 billion internet users worldwide. To all of them, the
internet has brought global freedom to communicate and to exchange
opinions and ideas. The internet still holds breathtaking opportunities for
our civilisation: from omnipresent access to education and healthcare to
better government policies through participative democracy. Much of the
progress and creativity achieved in recent years has been the fruit of
human ingenuity unleashed by the internet's openness to innovation.
But to continue reaping the benefits of the online world, the internet must
evolve on a solid and democratic base. Have you ever asked yourself
who actually is in charge of ensuring that millions of computers can
connect to each other 24 hours a day? And who decides on new top
level domains in addition to the existing ones, such as ".com", ".fr", ".de"
or ".eu", we can have? Who decides on the price that domain name
registries and end-users should pay for new domain names? Who, in the
last instance, guarantees the stability and openness of the internet for
users in the whole world?
Today the main player in all those decisions is ICANN, the Internet
Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. ICANN is also entrusted
with the IANA functions managing the root of the internet, the Internet's
core directory.
What is ICANN? ICANN is a private not-for profit corporation established
in California. Since it was created more than 10 years ago, ICANN has
been working under an agreement with the US Department of
Commerce. At the moment, the US government is the only body
exercising some oversight over ICANN. I believe that the US, so far,
done this in a reasonable manner. However, I also believe that the
Clinton administration's decision to progressively privatize the
internet's domain name and addressing system is the right one. 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.
I hope that now, after some hesitations about this by the US over the
past 8 years, President Obama will now continue the work started by the
Clinton administration. A moment of truth will come on 30 September
this year, when the current agreement between ICANN and the US
Government expires. This opens the door for the full privatisation of
ICANN; and it also raises the question of to whom ICANN should be
accountable, as from 1 October.
Accountability of ICANN is a must. Let us not forget that ICANN, in the
end, has the unique position of a global quasi-monopoly. The global
nature of the internet is its very strength and it certainly requires global
management. But monopolies always involve the risk of abuse. So to
whom should ICANN be accountable? Who should ensure that principles
of fair competition and end-user interests are taken into account in
ICANN decisions? Who should make sure that ICANN works only for the
global freedom of the internet, and never lends its hand to censorship or
the suppression of ideas?
After many talks with ICANN itself, representatives of different US
administrations and with stakeholders from around the world, I,
personally, would like to see the following model of internet
governance evolve after 30 September:
− First, I would like to see a fully privatised and fully independent
ICANN that complies, in its structure as a private corporation, with
the best standards of corporate governance, in particular with
those on financial transparency and internal accountability.
− Second, all people, companies, bodies or organisations
affected by ICANN decisions should have a right to request
full judicial review of ICANN decisions by a small, independent
international tribunal. ICANN decisions affect millions of citizens
and companies in the world. The courts of California alone are
certainly not best placed to handle legal challenges
originating in all continents of the world.
− Thirdly, while the day-to-day management of the internet should be
left to the independent decisions of ICANN and of the global
internet community, there should be a multilateral forum
available for governments to discuss general internet
governance policy issues. I believe that in most case, the
expertise of ICANN, the pressure of market forces, as well as
international law and principles will be enough to help resolve
issues related to Internet Governance. But there will also be some
cases where swift and efficient coordination among governments
will be required. Threats to the stability, security and openness of
the internet are one example, as these almost always have a
global dimension. I know that some stakeholders think the United
Nations would be a good candidate for this job. I personally believe
that since decisions on internet governance need to be taken
swiftly and efficiently most of the time, we will need to find a less
formal international forum. I propose that we create a "G-12 for
Internet Governance", an informal group of government
representatives that meets at least twice a year and can make, by
majority, recommendations to ICANN where appropriate. To be
geographically balanced, this "G-12 for Internet Governance"
should include two representatives from each North America,
South America, Europe and Africa, three representatives from Asia
and Australia, as well as the Chairman of ICANN as a non-voting
member. International Organisations with competences in this field
could be given observer status.
To put a new model of Internet Governance like this into place, will need
many discussions in the internet Community worldwide There will be a
first public hearing this week in Brussels to give the internet Community
in Europe the possibility to express their views. However, it goes without
saying that one country will have a particular responsibility for how the
internet will be governed in the future: the United States.
I trust that President Obama will have the courage, the wisdom and
the respect for the global nature of the internet to pave the way in
September for a new, more accountable, more transparent, more
democratic and more multilateral form of Internet Governance. The
time to act is now. And Europe will be ready to support President
Obama in his efforts.
Thank you for watching and see you next week!
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