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[ga-full] [Random-bits] TACD statement on ICANN (fwd)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 13:26:19 -0500
From: James Love <love@cptech.org>
To: Multiple recipients of list RANDOM-BITS
<random-bits@venice.essential.org>
Subject: [Random-bits] TACD statement on ICANN
The following is the text of one of the resolutions approved by the
Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) at its meeting that meeting
concluded on February 12, 2000. There may be a final
stylistic change by the TACD secretariat before the resolutions from the
Feb 10-12 meeting are published on the TACD web page
(http://www.tacd.org). This one of several TACD resolutions on
ecommerce that were approved by the group. The others covered topics
such as the US/EU safe harbor negotiations, jurisdiction, alternative
dispute resolution mechanisms, spam, linking of web pages and the
privacy implications of the Time Warner/AOL and similar mergers. (None
of which are available from the TACD web page yet).
TACD represents more than 60 consumer groups in the EU and the US,
including all of the largest and
best known consumer organizations. It is funded by the EU and US
governments to provide a consumer perspective in the negotiations on the
Trans Atlantic Economic Partnership (TEP), a very important trade
negotiation between the US and the EU.
Jamie Love <love@cptech.org>
<--------begin TACD recommendations---------------->
Pharmaceuticals - access to medicines in developing
countries
TACD statement on ICANN
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
is a non-profit organization incorporated in the State of
California that is seeking broad control over resources and
functions that are essential for the operation of the Internet.
According to ICANN, this includes "responsibility for the IP
address space allocation, protocol parameter assignment, domain
name system management, and root server system management."
Groups with various agendas are seeking ways to block access to
websites that engage in a variety of activities, or to impose new
Internet surveillance systems that can be used to impose
liability on certain actions. There is now growing attention to
the role of the DNS system and Internet protocol development as a
system of control over Internet usage. For example, by
controlling the allocation and mapping of domain names and IP
numbers, it is possible to render a web page invisible and
unfindable to most Internet addresses. There are also proposals
for various Internet protocols that would enable new mechanisms
for surveillance of Internet transmissions.
Because of their strategic importance, there are profound
concerns over the future control over the resources to control
DNS management. A number of groups with diverse interests and
views are seeking mechanisms to limit the use of DNS management
to narrow technical issues necessary for the operation of the
Internet, and to prevent the system of DNS management from being
used as an enforcement mechanism for government or private policy
making.
It is the view of TACD that ICANN's mission should be limited so
that it does not become a general purpose Internet governance
organization.
The records of ICANN should be open to the public, including
financial records, and all ICANN contracts, and ICANN should be
accountable to the public. The public should be given an annual
opportunity to review and comment on the ICANN budget. The
Budget of ICANN should be subject to review by the countries that
provide the ICANN charter. Fees associated with domain
registration should only be spent on activities essential to the
management of the DNS system.
TACD asks the US and the EU to report on the legal mechanics that
will limit ICANN's power to address broad Internet content
issues, and insure public accountability.
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