A United Nations-sponsored panel set up over a year ago wants to decide this year just who controls the Internet and how problems like online crime and spam get under control.
Panel leaders told reporters in Geneva on February 21 that they hope to get the groundwork done for a final decision in November at the World Summit on the Information Society, which could well determine global control of the Web.
Developing countries want a body like the International Telecommunication Union to have control over Web governing from distributing domains—currently the purview of the U.S.-based International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers—and fighting spam.
Critics are said to be divided over the extent of American political influence exercised over the Web via ICANN and other interests, and over whether an international body might be pressured likewise by governments known to be far more repressive of expression online.
"There is an issue that is out there and that needs to be resolved," said the working group chair, Nitin Desai, who is also a special adviser to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan.
