Who Controls the Internet? (supplementary Chapter 1 video)

Who Controls the Internet?

The discussion delves into the governance and control of the internet, exploring the various entities involved and the multi-stakeholder setting that influences decision-making.

Exploring Internet Governance

• The internet comprises a network of networks with individual operators having autonomy over their sections.

• Analogies to other large-scale infrastructure systems like roads and waterways help understand internet governance.

• Governments, standards organizations, industry, and user groups play roles in controlling infrastructure systems.

• Internet governance involves multiple stakeholders with diverse interests in a multi-stakeholder setting.

Multi-Stakeholder Engagement

• Dave Clark's paper highlights tussles among stakeholders as crucial for the internet's evolution.

• Multi-stakeholder engagement is essential for resolving conflicting interests in internet governance.

Layers of Internet Governance

The conversation introduces a reference model with three layers of internet governance: technical aspects, names and numbers, and content control.

Understanding Internet Governance Layers

• The infrastructure layer focuses on technical standards governing hardware and software components.

• Names and numbers layer involves technical standards along with social and governance processes for assigning names and addresses.

• Content control pertains to determining what content is available on the internet through social, policy, and governance processes.

Importance of Standards

Standards are crucial for interoperability within systems like electrical networks, emphasizing the necessity for coordination in complex societies.

Significance of Standards

• International standards ensure interoperability across regions, enhancing societal integration.

Railroad and Internet Standards

This section discusses the evolution of railroad standards in the United States and draws parallels between railroad systems and the internet, emphasizing the importance of standardization for interoperability.

Railroad Standardization in the 1860s

• Rail gauges varied significantly in the 1860s in the United States, with 20 different rail gauges causing interoperability issues.

• Lack of standardization meant trains from one system couldn't operate on another, hindering seamless travel across the country.

• Efforts were made to address this issue, leading to the establishment of a single standard gauge by 1886, enabling interconnected railway networks.

Parallels with Internet Standardization

• Analogies are drawn between railroad standardization and internet protocols, highlighting the necessity of standards for interconnection.

• The interconnection of various networks mirrors how standards allow different systems to work together effectively.

Internet Governance and Technical Standards

This segment delves into internet governance, technical standards development by organizations like IETF and 3GPP, and debates around global versus national control over internet protocols.

Internet Evolution and Governance

• Bob Khan discusses governments' role in deciding internet standards within their countries while emphasizing a need for global technical standards.

• The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) plays a crucial role in developing technical standards for internet protocols through an open international community approach.

Mobile Cellular Systems Standards

• The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) sets technical standards for mobile cellular systems across generations like 3G, 4G, and now 5G.

• Different generations of mobile networks have evolved from analog to digital with added broadband capabilities over time.

Network Standards Organizations

This part explores key organizations involved in setting network standards such as IEEE for wireless ethernet and Wi-Fi protocols along with ITU's historical role in networking standards.

IEEE Network Standards

• IEEE oversees wireless ethernet (IEEE 802.3) and Wi-Fi (802.11) protocol families present in most wireless devices today.

• These protocols play vital roles in defining link layer wireless communication technologies used widely across devices.

International Telecommunications Union (ITU)

• ITU is one of the oldest networking standards bodies globally since its inception as a UN agency in 1949.

Corporation Naming and Internet Naming Conflicts

The discussion revolves around the naming of corporations that produce computers and phones, highlighting potential conflicts in internet naming conventions.

Corporation Naming Clarity

• Corporations like Patagonia face challenges with internet names ending in "patagonia."

• ICANN has rules to address such naming conflicts.

• ICANN enforces a uniform domain name dispute resolution policy to handle issues like abusive domain name registrations.

Importance of Domain Names

This section emphasizes the significance of domain names and their value in the digital landscape.

Value of Domain Names

• Owning a domain name can hold substantial value, as seen with examples like thedomainnamevoice.com selling for $30 million in 2019.

• Emphasizes the importance of selecting appropriate and meaningful names due to their impact and worth.

ICANN's Role in Internet Address Assignment

Explores ICANN's role in assigning internet addresses and managing the translation process from names to IP addresses.

ICANN's Functions

• ICANN assigns internet addresses and oversees the translation process from names to IP addresses globally.

• The Domain Name System (DNS) facilitates this translation, crucial for internet functionality.

ICANN's Organizational Structure

Details ICANN's organizational structure, emphasizing its non-profit nature and multi-stakeholder approach.

Organizational Framework

• Established in 1998 as a non-profit entity to internationalize internet naming and addressing.

• Operates through a consensus-based multi-stakeholder model where various entities including governments, businesses, academia, and civil society have equal voices.

Challenges Faced by ICANN

Discusses pressures on ICANN to alter its governance structure towards more government control over internet management.

Governance Challenges

• Over the past decade, there has been increasing pressure on ICANN to shift towards government-centric control.

• Instances like the 2012 World Conference on International Telecommunications highlighted proposals advocating for greater governmental influence over internet management.

Internet Content Control: Key Players

Shifts focus towards examining who determines online content availability and access rights on the internet.

Determining Internet Content

• Explores critical questions surrounding content regulation, access rights determination, with significant economic, policy, and societal implications.

Who Controls the Internet?

This section delves into the complexities of internet governance and control, highlighting the multifaceted nature of determining who controls the internet.

Decisions Based on Packet Content

• Firewall rules dictate decisions based on packet content.

• Example: A firewall rule may specify not to forward packets containing a specific phrase like 'x.'

Importance of Internet Governance

The significance of internet governance is emphasized, focusing on technical standards, domain names, numbers, and content access control.

Three Key Components of Control

• Technical standards define internet operations.

• Domain names and numbers play a crucial role in internet functioning.

• Control over access to online content is a critical aspect of internet governance.

Conclusion and Appreciation

Concluding remarks expressing appreciation for engaging with the topic of internet control and governance.

Closing Thoughts

• Expresses hope for audience interest in the discussion.