Internet caretaker ICANN to escape US control
"Governments want to exert control over the sweeping transnational power of the Internet that is effecting their policies, politics, social fabric and/or their economic conditions," Chehade told AFP just days before the group gathered in Los Angeles to tackle an array of hot issues.
"The other groups are large corporations concerned about security issues," he continued while discussing forces striving for influence over the organization.
"Therefore, they are stepping in with force to figure out how to reduce potential harm to customers and to their businesses."
Governance of the Internet will be a high-profile topic at the ICANN 51 meeting that will continue through October 16 in Los Angeles.
US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker addressed the gathering on Monday, affirming support for ICANN being accountable to the "global multi-stakeholder community" and not to any single organization.
“Let me be clear about this," Pritzker said.
"The United States will not allow the global Internet to be co-opted by any person, entity or nation seeking to substitute their parochial world view for the collective wisdom of this community."
