[Chapter-delegates] A workable, gTLDs process, now

[Fred Baker]

On Feb 23, 2011, at 11:48 AM, Franck Martin wrote:

> What do you think of GAC having veto power?

The question is how it would be used. We have seen "vetoes" in several countries surrounding the Mediterranean recently. If the effect of a GAC veto disadvantages fair and open trade and exchange of information, the effect is demonstrably to disadvantage the countries that impose it. If the effect is to prevent a bad decision on ICANN's part, that's something different.

Personally, I would hope that the GAC could be part of the ICANN process, respected and listened to, but not empowered beyond civil society. The events that we have seen recently say that if government gets in the way of its citizens, in the end the citizens change the government. The only real question is how long it takes and how much pain is involved.