World internet cup in Brazil - a review

Monika Ermert, Heise, Intellectual Property Watch, VDI-Nachrichten

PUBLISHED ON: 26 Apr 2014

In an ambitious move, the Brazilian government, technical and civil society organised a meeting to address key issues of internet governance. While not everybody was happy with the final result, process-wise it was a landmark meeting.

Since the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 our international system is based upon the principle of territorial sovereignty. Today, however, cross-border online spaces made possible by the internet span across a system of fragmented national jurisdictions. Tension rises since we do not have the legal equivalent to the technical interoperability that enables the global internet. A choice has to be made.

The day after the ‘net neutrality vote’

Frédéric Dubois, Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG)

PUBLISHED ON: 4 Apr 2014

On Thursday April 3, the European Parliament voted in favour of a legislative package to protect network neutrality and abolish mobile roaming fees within the European Union. The decision may set off a serious struggle between EU Council and Parliament.

After US stewardship: who should govern the internet’s root zone?

Monika Ermert, Heise, Intellectual Property Watch, VDI-Nachrichten

PUBLISHED ON: 24 Mar 2014

After the announcement that the United States will cease to play a role as steward of the internet's core resources, the community has to come to grips on who and how the replacement will be. The 49th meeting of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) was designed to take first - albeit wobbly - steps.