EU calls for US to loosen grip on Internet governance body

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2009

BRUSSELS (AFP) — The European Commission on Thursday called for the ICANN Internet body to open up to greater number of countries, loosening the United State's grip over the private group.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) currently operates under an agreement with the US Department of Commerce, which expires on 30 September.

ICANN, a non-profit organization based in Marina del Rey in Southern California, oversees the assignment of domain names -- such as .org or .edu -- and Internet protocol addresses that help computers communicate.

The European Commission said that when ICANN's agreement with Washington expired, it should become more "universally accountable."

"In the view of the European Commission, future internet governance...