Modern age is largely governed by the technological forces which have far surpassed the traditional medium both in their reach and hold. Regarded as the engines of change they are transforming every aspect of modern living. The developments especially in the field of electronic communication have ushered an era where global interconnectivity is an everyday reality.
Be it trade or commerce, entertainment, research co-ordination, or individual-to-individual contact, electronic communication is the order of day. Internet sits at the root of it. How much benefit we shall be able to reap from it however, remains in jeopardy mainly due to United States near monopoly over it. Tunis World Summit on Information Society had been covered with the objective of pushing further the international debate on it and come up with a better arrangement which gives a just representation to other nations too.
The Purpose
The internet was created by Pentagon in 1970 under a project to connect computers for defence purposes. Today it has metamorphosed into a critical link between individual and organisation world over. The US has created and has been running it for last 35 years and thus it claims to be the best for running it. It is evident in the caustic statement of chief US negotiator in the mentioned conference—we want to ensure that we keep the recipe for net’s success. If you modify it the risk is you come out with something far worse. Another important reason is of revenues in tune of billions of dollars that America earns from internet. However, an issue of grave importance for America is the use of internet by terrorists. Internet has become de facto mode of communication between terrorists world over, sometimes becoming even the ground of attack in case of viruses which can destroy valuable data causing losses in millions.
Internet as we know, is a connected network of computers spread the world over which is used both by individuals and organisations for communication and information sharing. Each computer is assigned a unique number by which it is identified. However, few of us realise that is being indirectly controlled. The organisation responsible for assigning the unique numbers and maintaining the root structure of Internet is ICANN—Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. It had been set up by the US Department of Commerce in 1998 as a non-profit private organisation. Though it is free to pursue its policy and the US government retains the power to vote its all decisions.
As internet has increasingly becoming one of the major tools of globalisation. All the countries now have a stake in it so they are opposed to its unilateral control by the US. In this context, vocal has been countries like China, Brazil and Iran, etc., who want greater role of nations in global internet governance. The US’s total control on this media of global importance is viewed undesirable and voices are raised for including other stake holders also in the decision-making process. The US does not want to cede control for obvious reasons but it is becoming increasingly difficult for it to do so.
Structure and Functioning
The structure and functioning of Internet is supervised by ICANN. It assigns domain names, maintains the database of web addresses and directs the internet traffic of information and commerce etc. The computers known as root servers are the master directories which make sure that the user wanting to contact a particular site is connected to that. It can be easily understood that interconnecting millions of computers is obviously the job of critical importance.
ICANN, besides approving suffices of web addresses, i.e., com, org and operating the directory of website owners also oversees the technological mapping that enables users find their desired sites by just typing URL than the original numeric address. The idea behind setting up of ICANN was to keep the operational architecture in professional hands to ensure its smooth running, free from governmental meddling.
Present Controversy
The present controversy over America’s monopoly over this tool of global importance refuses to subside for many reasons. The internet has constantly grown in size and importance over years. It has become a critical means of conducting business and operating services like video and phoning. It has now over one billion users. The services of Internet have become vitally important for all nations with the passage of time. Though a unitary structure is desirable for its smooth operation, the countries are realising that being fundamentally under the control of a country can seriously jeopardise their national interests. For instance the communist regimes of world do not want websites advocating democracy in their countries. Another bone of contention is countries being not able to block certain websites which they consider culturally harmful. Also when the volume and importance of web enabled trade and communication has acquired such important dimensions no country would like to leave complete control in the hands of the US.
The US controls the net with its 13 root servers where almost all websites names are registered and made operational. Though with the passage of time, other countries too are able to install their own servers, they are basically clone servers (about a hundred) but that is used to route only the internet traffic with the US being able to block them any moment it wishes to. India also has its own National Internet Exchange.
The fresh row over showed internet governance started with the America refusing to give up its control on the root servers contrary to its indication to do so in 2006. America’s defiance to hand over the control can be understood easily if we analyse the underlying factors.
The idea of allowing multiple masters to govern internet does not seem practical either. The creation of multiple and incompatible internets will also fail to deliver the chief utility of internet—open, user-friendly and accessible to all worldwide. Internet derives its economic and social strength from its open and decentralised architecture. The creation of separate internets by governments would rob it of this most powerful feature. Nationally sponsored and controlled little could be expected from them. A major issue north serious reflection is the prospect of a theocratic and a communist government getting hold over it. In that case it would be obviously pushed as a platform of conflict.
The stakes both for US and other countries are critical on internet issue. The EU which had till late supported US control only reluctantly agreed on US continuing it. In India though subscribers are only around 5-6 million selective control on net traffic is a culturally as well as strategically important issue for the government. There had been voiced to put its administration under the aegis of the UN still the US is firmly in control. An alternative arrangement for internet would take time so different geopolitical and economic as cultural interests of nations are synchronised enough to let a multiparty forum run it. A positive happening is the proposed creation of Internet Governance Forum to discuss about the issues like spam, cybercrime or computer virus though it would have any observing power.
Be it trade or commerce, entertainment, research co-ordination, or individual-to-individual contact, electronic communication is the order of day. Internet sits at the root of it. How much benefit we shall be able to reap from it however, remains in jeopardy mainly due to United States near monopoly over it. Tunis World Summit on Information Society had been covered with the objective of pushing further the international debate on it and come up with a better arrangement which gives a just representation to other nations too.
The Purpose
The internet was created by Pentagon in 1970 under a project to connect computers for defence purposes. Today it has metamorphosed into a critical link between individual and organisation world over. The US has created and has been running it for last 35 years and thus it claims to be the best for running it. It is evident in the caustic statement of chief US negotiator in the mentioned conference—we want to ensure that we keep the recipe for net’s success. If you modify it the risk is you come out with something far worse. Another important reason is of revenues in tune of billions of dollars that America earns from internet. However, an issue of grave importance for America is the use of internet by terrorists. Internet has become de facto mode of communication between terrorists world over, sometimes becoming even the ground of attack in case of viruses which can destroy valuable data causing losses in millions.
Internet as we know, is a connected network of computers spread the world over which is used both by individuals and organisations for communication and information sharing. Each computer is assigned a unique number by which it is identified. However, few of us realise that is being indirectly controlled. The organisation responsible for assigning the unique numbers and maintaining the root structure of Internet is ICANN—Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. It had been set up by the US Department of Commerce in 1998 as a non-profit private organisation. Though it is free to pursue its policy and the US government retains the power to vote its all decisions.
As internet has increasingly becoming one of the major tools of globalisation. All the countries now have a stake in it so they are opposed to its unilateral control by the US. In this context, vocal has been countries like China, Brazil and Iran, etc., who want greater role of nations in global internet governance. The US’s total control on this media of global importance is viewed undesirable and voices are raised for including other stake holders also in the decision-making process. The US does not want to cede control for obvious reasons but it is becoming increasingly difficult for it to do so.
Structure and Functioning
The structure and functioning of Internet is supervised by ICANN. It assigns domain names, maintains the database of web addresses and directs the internet traffic of information and commerce etc. The computers known as root servers are the master directories which make sure that the user wanting to contact a particular site is connected to that. It can be easily understood that interconnecting millions of computers is obviously the job of critical importance.
ICANN, besides approving suffices of web addresses, i.e., com, org and operating the directory of website owners also oversees the technological mapping that enables users find their desired sites by just typing URL than the original numeric address. The idea behind setting up of ICANN was to keep the operational architecture in professional hands to ensure its smooth running, free from governmental meddling.
Present Controversy
The present controversy over America’s monopoly over this tool of global importance refuses to subside for many reasons. The internet has constantly grown in size and importance over years. It has become a critical means of conducting business and operating services like video and phoning. It has now over one billion users. The services of Internet have become vitally important for all nations with the passage of time. Though a unitary structure is desirable for its smooth operation, the countries are realising that being fundamentally under the control of a country can seriously jeopardise their national interests. For instance the communist regimes of world do not want websites advocating democracy in their countries. Another bone of contention is countries being not able to block certain websites which they consider culturally harmful. Also when the volume and importance of web enabled trade and communication has acquired such important dimensions no country would like to leave complete control in the hands of the US.
The US controls the net with its 13 root servers where almost all websites names are registered and made operational. Though with the passage of time, other countries too are able to install their own servers, they are basically clone servers (about a hundred) but that is used to route only the internet traffic with the US being able to block them any moment it wishes to. India also has its own National Internet Exchange.
The fresh row over showed internet governance started with the America refusing to give up its control on the root servers contrary to its indication to do so in 2006. America’s defiance to hand over the control can be understood easily if we analyse the underlying factors.
The idea of allowing multiple masters to govern internet does not seem practical either. The creation of multiple and incompatible internets will also fail to deliver the chief utility of internet—open, user-friendly and accessible to all worldwide. Internet derives its economic and social strength from its open and decentralised architecture. The creation of separate internets by governments would rob it of this most powerful feature. Nationally sponsored and controlled little could be expected from them. A major issue north serious reflection is the prospect of a theocratic and a communist government getting hold over it. In that case it would be obviously pushed as a platform of conflict.
The stakes both for US and other countries are critical on internet issue. The EU which had till late supported US control only reluctantly agreed on US continuing it. In India though subscribers are only around 5-6 million selective control on net traffic is a culturally as well as strategically important issue for the government. There had been voiced to put its administration under the aegis of the UN still the US is firmly in control. An alternative arrangement for internet would take time so different geopolitical and economic as cultural interests of nations are synchronised enough to let a multiparty forum run it. A positive happening is the proposed creation of Internet Governance Forum to discuss about the issues like spam, cybercrime or computer virus though it would have any observing power.
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