InternetNZ cautiously welcomes WSIS outcome

17 November 2005

InternetNZ cautiously welcomes WSIS outcome

“In the end, this is an outcome which New Zealand Internet users should be comfortable with - but the devil is in the detail,” said InternetNZ president Colin Jackson today, responding to news of a deal agreed by governments at the World Summit on the Information Society, currently being held in Tunisia.

“The critical point is that there is no interference in ICANNs continued administration of the Internet’s core infrastructure including the domain name system, IP numbers and the root server database. This will ensure that the successful model of private-sector led development involving all relevant stakeholders continues to govern the core of the Internet.

“The Summit looks likely to agree the formation of a UN/ITU Internet Governance forum, aimed at addressing the broad public policy issues raised by the Internet’s development, including addressing international problems such as cyber-crime, spam and identity theft. Such issues do not fit under the ICANN umbrella, so it is useful that a new global organisation is established for this purpose.

“It will be a matter of great importance to ensure the new Forum does not stray from its agreed mandate, into the technical core areas administered by ICANN.

“The ICANN administrative functions are working well, and could potentially be made more responsive to national governments by strengthening the Government Advisory Committee (GAC) constituency which has always existed with ICANN.

“InternetNZ welcomes the continuation of the private-sector led ICANN at the heart of the Internet, but remains cautious about the creation of the new Forum

The proposed Forum provides an opportunity for governments to play their part in policy development for those aspects of Internet Governance not covered by ICANN, We will be monitoring this closely to ensure that it stays within its remit..” concluded Colin Jackson.

ENDS

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