Re: AW: [ICANN-EU] AMM's "government statement"

[Alf Hansen <aha@uninett.no>]

Andy Mueller-Maguhn wrote:
....
> 
> One more word to Mr. Hansen:
> 
> > because Andy wants it to be regarded as such a
> >Government.
> 
> >This does not mean that it IS a world Governement.
> 
> Depending on what is your understanding of what the
> world is. I tried to explain that if you see the world
> as the information sphere, then ICANN is a government
> cause it has global impact on the information sphere
> and, missing to influence this for the users, is giving
> it in the hands of others - lawyers, national governments
> etc.

My comment was based on the English FAZ article. That is what people
will read, not what we discuss here.

I agree with the importance of user influence. ICANN's focus is not on
information content. Again, the focus must be on Names, Addresses,
Protocols, and this focus is important in order to keep the Internet
Interconnected for Everyone. I think it is misleading people to use the
term "Government" to describe the ICANN Board. It is a Board.

If we are not making ICANN a stable organisation soon, the result may be
that Governments will be forced to take over. And that is not what we
want. Even if lawers and national governments can be useful for users...

> 
> Just look at the french registry (allowing french citizen not
> to get a domain, only open for companies and governments),
> the missing icann policy (that the internetīs name space is
> a public space) and the consequences.

We just heared from Olivier Guillard that this is a wrong description.

> 
> Of course, if Icann would make such a policy, the french
> government could override such a policy and still let itīs
> ccTLD registration only open for companies & governments.
> But then people would realize what the french government
> is doing, more people would ask them why and - call me
> naive if you want - in the long term road, such an undemocratic
> behaviour would have a chance to change or other action
> to be taken to give french citizens an name space asylum
> (maybe in .eu ?).

This, too.

> 
> So, I didnīt wanted Icann to be regarded as a world
> government (to be able to override national laws), I want
> it to make politics that symbolically fit in the tasks
> icann has.

ICANN should make politics for names, addresses and protocols. Not for
Internet content or information policies or trade mark policy or policy
for building democracy or other general political aspects.

> 
> thanx for your understanding,

I understand. But we are in disagreement about ICANN's role.

> 
> A.
> 

Best regards,
-- 
Alf Hansen                     Mail address:
                                 UNINETT FAS A/S
aha@uninett.no                   N-7465 Trondheim, Norway
Home page:                     Phone: +47 73 55 79 00
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