Who Should Run the Internet? A Plaything of Powerful Nations
Over 2,000 netheads from over 100 different countries recently gathered in Nairobi for the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). This conference is organised under United Nations auspices and excellently models what is often referred to as the “multi-stakeholder” model. This forum model dictates that all involved are able to have their say, and final decisions are made by “rough consensus”. The approach dates back to the beginnings of the internet. Until the early 2000s, most governments were satisfied with this. Yet as the internet has grown significantly and become a global medium, attitudes have changed. Governments now appear to be pushing back, indicating that they want the last word on contentious issues, and are no longer happy being treated as simply another stakeholder…
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