Re: [ALSC-Forum] Self-regulation and ICANN

[Mikael Pawlo]

On Sun, 15 Jul 2001, Esther Dyson wrote:
> Mikael, hi.   Most people do not consider the UN a model of transparency or 
> accountability. We are trying to design something that *would* work as such 
> a model, and that therefore would earn legitimacy without inheriting it 
> from governments of questionable legitimacy.

I find it hard to believe that ICANN could exist without the co-operation
or at least the acceptance of the national governments, no matter how
questionable their legitimacy as you put it (the issue of the .kids domain
is a good illustration of this and it will be most interesting to follow
the development in that respect). Further, most governments do - in my
opinion - represent their citizens. Maybe one should try to improve
democracy in the states lacking thereof, but creating a global body of
corporations, non-profit organizations, individuals, governments and other
constituencies is task that would make the stone of Sisyphos look like a
ping-pong ball.

When it comes to the UN I can appreciate the reluctant attitude towards
it, expressed by many US citizens, but it still has - at least in
theory - some built-in mechanisms for accountability, international
representation and transparancy through it's members.

I am not sure the UN is the appropriate forum for the ICANN function, but
an international body created by governments is - again in my point of
view - a more reasonable road to travel than pure self-regulation. The
function as such might not be suitable for self-regulation in the way you 
and others promote.

Regards

Mikael

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