USA seem to be doing it anyway, is that OK?Any internet user out there will feel the great embracing hug of America while they are online. Now it seems that the time has come for other continental powers to step up and get involved.

It seems that the EU is challenging the USA over its strong control of the internet. They particularly want to take issue with USA's stance on centrally controlling authority on the internet. Europe has for a long time had a problem with this issue but it seems the recent revelations on internet surveillance by the NSA has brought things to a head somewhat. So many headlines generating so much public anger over the intrusion by this agency into our private lives has made the EU move its agenda for the web forward. They must know they cannot gain absolute control of the web, no one country should have that. I have a feeling we shall soon see some form of internet governing convention set up to try and sort this issue, if there has not already been one on the political schedule for the various world leaders.

What is proposed?

The EU’s proposals call for more transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance about how the internet is managed and run. Russia, China, and other nations have pushed for changes that would transfer duties such as domain name allocation away from ICANN, the US nonprofit organization that’s responsible for some of the web’s key infrastructure. UN agency International Telecommunication Union put together wide-ranging proposals for more global internet control, but they were previously rejected by US, Canada, Australia, and UK governments.

Tom Warren, The Verge, February 12th 2014

Share the Web, Go On!My feeling on this is simple, we must hand whatever control the internet needs over to those who can represent the needs and best interests of the entire populations. That clearly cannot be one country, or one continental group in the case of Europe. I believe the only body that might be up to the task of proper regulatory control of the internet and its infrastructure could be the United Nations. Though as you will see below, some very smart and influential people and bodies would not agree with my view.

The EU's own technology chief Neelie Kroes suggests internet is best shared among many than just one country, body or society. I strongly urge you to follow her on Twitter and you can do so here. For the full story on what the EU hopes to achieve from these discussions then I would consider reading the sizable article by Frances Robinson & Sam Schechner on The Wall Street Journal. The quote below gives you the most interesting snippets of what is a very intriguing article, check it out.

5 Takeaways From the EU GambitDisclosures about U.S. spying of digital communications are giving new momentum abroad to calls to limit U.S. influence over the Internet:

1 The U.S. still rules much of the Web's architectureCurrently, the U.S. government contracts the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), technically a nonprofit organization based in California, to oversee vital aspects of the Internet's infrastructure to enable the flow of its traffic.

2 What the EU wants from the U.S.The European Commission proposal is expected to call for a firm timetable to transition to fully globalize governance of Web functions, including the assignment of top-level domain names, such as ".com". It also wants to fully internationalize ICANN.

3 The two sides aren't so far apartThe EU proposal lends support to Brazil, another vocal proponent for more global control of the Internet, but still backs a number of U.S. positions on how more international governance should function.

4 The U.S. hasn't said how much control it would give upThe U.S. has said it advocates moving to a more international system of Internet governance. But it hasn't disclosed whether it would be willing to cede indirect control of the functions it contracts to ICANN.

5 More governments involved doesn't please everyone.Some lobbyists warn against a too heavy-handed approach to change, arguing that governments risk stifling the Internet if they take too much control through technical means or via the Internet's governance. "When you see intergovernmental, it means governments only," said Frédéric Donck of the Internet Society, which lobbies on matters related to governance. "That is not what we see as a solution."

Robinson & Schechner TWSJ..com 11/2/2014