Long Term Hazard:
I’m just speculating here, but ...
ICANN could also legitimize a rival internet with its hub in China. [They already have the infrustructure and have already build facilities for ICANN.]
Each registry [such as .com or .org] could find itself up against a foreign ‘shadow TLD’. In other words — the worst cyber war yet in history. Imagine typing in to this forum and your computer downloads bugs and you see nothing but Chinese propaganda or the most perverse kind of porn or even snuff films.
We would need firewalls and completely isolate ourselves from the shadow registries.
Actually — China probably does not need ICANN’s direct support anymore. They’ve been building close friendships with each other for half a year now [or longer].
But what ICANN does is provide international legitimacy as well as act as a ‘security blanket’ for other foreign powers which are uncomfortable with challenging US dominance of the internet.
Swedish telecom chief to steer web body ICANN to independence [USA Internet control expires Sept 30]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3394704/posts
Europe is seeking to form of ‘internet ostracism’ to regulate ALL domain names [aka web addresses] throughout the world, and Obama is on board.
I wrote a long time ago:
“If McConnell really wants to hurt the Tea Party as badly as he claims, then this is the way to do it.”
And he does.
News Update ... [found by bushwon]
McConnell Stabs Free Speech in the Back
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3472322/posts
“... on Thursday Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., laid out a “clean CR,” a blueprint for a continuing resolution to fund the government from Oct. 1 through Dec. 9. It does not include a provision to delay the transfer.”