Does
the U.S. Government have a right to privatize the global
public Internet without a global public vote? If not, the
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
(ICANN) is an illegitimate Internet regime assuming power
without the consent of the
governed. ICANN is illegitimate,
further, because its "elected" board members were
nominated from gerrymandered constituencies. ICANN's
pretense of democracy is a transparent sham. The emperor
has no clothes.
Since
the Internet is becoming a driving cultural force for
humanity, humanity has a natural right to have a fair say
in the networks altering their lives. Sadly, ICANN
disenfranches billions of people worldwide in a
commercial drive by trademark holders to gain early
control over the domain name system before the coming
cyberspace land rush. ICANN needs to be investigated and
repaired, or better still, replaced with a constitutional
democracy. What shall it be? Rule of law, or rule by
committee? Our choice.
Suppose
a corporation arrives during the night and declares they
own the public street where you live. When you awaken in
the morning, you find a toll booth at the end of your
driveway. Suppose the corporation announces that they now
own your town, your country, indeed our whole world.
Suppose this corporation starts issuing edicts on what
you can and cannot do in your own home, never asking for
permission to control your life. Suppose they harm you
for protesting? Are you willing to stay silent and let
them take over?
Shall we follow orders like
sheep? Or do we defend our liberty?
Despite growing protest, a plan
for Internet governance is now being implemented. The
Internet Corporation for Assigned Named and Numbers
(ICANN)
institutes a U.S. White House vision for privatizing the
public Internet while expanding the commercial top-level
domain name space beyond ".com." On the pendulum between
tyranny and freedom, ICANN swings towards technocracy. If
ICANN survives current protests, a private corporation
will rule our Information Superhighway. Community
property will be privatized without a vote. That's a
dangerous precendent. Worse, the unilateral U.S. move
today will forever alter world civilization
tomorrow.
There's never been a public
vote to mandate privatization.
Presuming to govern without the
consent of the governed, charges critics, ICANN is
usurping rights naturally vested in "we the people." By
making final decisions behind closed doors while publicly
touting a sham consensus process among restricted
constituencies, warn critics, ICANN is hiding an
authoritarian agenda behind a democratic disguise. ICANN
apparently is becoming a font for global corporations
securing their private interests without regard for the
rights of smaller players. They're fixing the rules as
fits their needs. If indeed ICANN is seeking to rule us
without our permission, then ICANN is illegitimate. This
report removes the mask. More aptly, given the media
industry refusal to face the danger, this report is like
the blunt child who cries out that the emperor wears no
clothes.
There's never been a situation
like this before in human history.
The question of who
governs a global communications network has never before
confronted our inventive species. The decentralized
Internet is helping us mature into an awareness of our
global interactivity, a global sensibility stimulating
the personal democracy essential for civil democracy.
Governance of the Internet by all "netizens, technically
doable, is crucial for human evolution. What we're
lacking is the political will. Like ending hunger,
once we have the will, we'll find a way.
ICANN threatens
the pro-democracy movement.
ICANN's
centralized, topdown management system is contrary to the
Internet itself, and this core contradition ensures
conflict. Further, allowing one nation to privatize
global community property without a public vote, I'd
propose, sets a dangerous precedent in world affairs. A
despotic Internet government will foster aspirations for
a despotic world government, stifling pro-democracy
drives.
Do we really need someone to be
our king?
Since the Internet
already is transforming our local to global societies, do
you feel comfortable with ICANN becoming our network
government? Are you willing for one committee to control
policies affecting how you and your family will live,
love, learn, work, play, and vote? ICANN is securing a
hold on power because too few of us are willing to stand
up and oppose their efforts. We remain reluctant to do
our homework for governing our Internet through direct
democracy. We'd rather give away the task to a closed
committee of elite technocrats than get
informed
and get
involved.
Are we mature enough for
responsible self rule?
We think we are too
powerless as individuals to make any difference in the
world. It's a false belief. Actually, on our interactive
planet, everything we think, say and do alters life for
the whole world, by design or default. We are more
powerful than we dare to believe, and we avoid
responsibility for our power by pretending we are
powerless. Denial of our interactivity is a pretense to
avoid the duties of adulthood. Remaining children
dependent on a paternal king is easier, but the deed is
self destructive. Humanity could mature into adulths if
we'll have the global sense to practice responsible self
rule.
You alone can and do make all the difference in the
world.
Please consider
this analysis with an open mind. I've reported the facts
as best I can gather them, being sure my own bias is
clearly marked. I'm praying this report will both inform
and inspire. Paraphrasing Tom Paine, the
cause of a democratic Internet is the cause of
humankind.
Do you
favor ICANN ruling us? Read
the ICANN Analysis 
.
Understanding
Network
Democracy
