US to sacrifice control of internet domain-governing body in place of multilateral body

The organisation responsible for controlling internet domain names and addresses will be governed by a “multi-stakeholder” model later this year as the current steward, the United States, has lost credibility in the wake of the much-publicised leaks by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

The new model, which will take effect sometime between September and late December, will include the participation of governments, businesses and individuals, according to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

It said at a conference it hosted in Hong Kong on Friday that rising powers like China and Russia will not assume control of the body in the future because ICANN will treat governments, companies and academics as equal stakeholders.

China will not have a stronger say or more influence than other stakeholders, said Izumi Okutani, policy liaison officer of the Japan Network Information Centre (JPNIC), the country’s national internet registry. The official was not speaking on behalf of the Japanese government, but as an ICANN member.

“Even though China is a big country, it is only one stakeholder. It does not mean China will try to take more control,” said Lee Xiaodong, president of the China Internet Network information Center (CNNIC), the country’s top internet administrator.