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I just studied this some more.

Europe is seeking to form of ‘internet ostracism’ to regulate ALL domain names [aka web addresses] throughout the world, and Obama is on board.

If McConnell really wants to hurt the Tea Party as badly as he claims, then this is the way to do it.

http://betanews.com/2016/01/24/the-clock-is-ticking-for-the-us-to-relinquish-control-of-icann/

It’s packed with empty assurances, but here’s the ‘meat’ ...

‘For decades, ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) — the non-profit organization that manages IP addresses and domain names — has been overseen by the US Department of Commerce ... Most upset are those who point to the independent nature of the internet, and the need for any body with global power to be similarly indpendent. Later this year ICANN is set — at long last — to completely separate from the US government.

While this does hinge on US government approval, by the end of September, ICANN could instead be in the hands of businesses, individuals, and multiple global governments.

[The tacit concern is over US surveillance by the NSA etc. But how does control of domain names affect that?]

In February, Congress will hear plans for how the transition process could work. The current contract between ICANN and the government is due to expire on 30 September — unless there are governmental protests about how the handover could happen, this deadline should be allowed to naturally expire.

The new arrangement, announced back in March 2014, would introduce a great degree of diversity of oversight, although ICANN insists that despite the involvement of the US government, it has still been able to operate independently.

... Ultimately, this is little more than a common sense PR move that decentralizes control of the internet.

... a move to a more diverse structure should mean that it is better at self-policing and allows for far greater transparency and accountability ...