Dubai: There is no better time than now to ensure that the internet and its world wide web stays globally sound with the help of non-government agencies, says Rod Beckstrom, President and CEO of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann), the world body that governs the underpinnings of the internet.
Speaking at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Vilnius, Lithuania, Beckstrom reminded leaders that internet governance must be kept out of the hands of intergovernmental organisations.
"The domain name system processes hundred of billions of transactions each day. More transactions than the world's financial markets, more than the telephone systems," Beckstrom said in a statement. "The fact that the internet works is the ultimate tribute to the multi-stakeholder governance model.
"Governments could not do it alone. Its openness, its inclusiveness, its relative lack of regulation make it a fertile field for innovation and competition, an engine for much needed economic growth." In his address, Beckstrom said that the not-for-profit body Icann is striving to maintain all global interests for the fut-ure of the internet.
"If governance were to become the exclusive province of nation states or captured by any other interests, we would lose the foundation of the internet's long-term potential and transformative value," he said.
"Decisions on its future should reflect the widest possible range of views and the wisdom of the entire world community — not just governmental organisations."
He said that the US government has recognised that the internet needs to remain open and transparent, free from government control. Beckstrom said Icann's signing of the Affirmation of Commitments with the US government was a step forward.
"With the 2009 Affirmation of Commitments, the United States and Icann formally recognised that no single party should hold undue influence over internet governance.
"The Affirmation acknowledges the success of the Icann model; it commits Icann to remaining a private, not-for-profit organisation, validates the role of the Governmental Advisory Committee and declares that Icann is independent and not controlled by any one entity," he said.
