World discusses internet future (BBC) {under UN auspices}

[eppur_se_muova]

By Darren Waters
Technology editor, BBC News website, Athens

The future of the net is the ambitious topic under discussion at the first global Internet Governance Forum, being held in Athens over the next five days.

It has been set up by the UN to give governments, companies, organisations and individuals space for debate.
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The forum is not a decision-making body but instead is designed to give stakeholders in the internet a chance to form consensus around key areas.
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Some felt that the aims of WSIS were overshadowed by debates around the control of the internet and controversy over internationalised domain names - ie giving countries which do not use or understand the Latin alphabet the ability to navigate the internet in their own script.

The move towards internationalised domain names is being overseen by Icann, the body appointed by the US Department of Commerce to oversee domain names such as .com and .org.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6087174.stm

No earth-shaking conclusions from the Forum yet, but this seems like something world citizens should be aware of.