[ih] What does being "in charge of the Internet" mean?

[Jack Haverty]

Sorry, missed a piece in my copy/paste -- added it at the end below.

On 12/10/22 10:35, Jack Haverty wrote:
> So, who's in charge...?  I decided to ask the New Kid on the Block.   
> S/he concurs that no one is in charge of the Internet, but told me 
> about one player that I didn't know until now - the Internet 
> Governance Forum.
>
> FYI, I've appended our conversation below.   I asked the one-liner 
> questions.   The answers are all from ChatGPT.   Not very creative but 
> seems to be a good and impartial factual (if possibly outdated) 
> summary.  IMHO at least.  We're all entering into a new world....as 
> the Internet develops a Brain.
>
> Enjoy,
> Jack Haverty
>
> ----------------------------------------------------
>
> Who is in charge of the Internet?
>
> There is no one person or organization in charge of the Internet. The 
> Internet is a global network of interconnected computer networks that 
> is based on a decentralized architecture, meaning that it is not 
> controlled by any single entity. Instead, it is managed by a variety 
> of organizations and individuals that work together to ensure that the 
> Internet continues to function smoothly and effectively. This includes 
> governments, private companies, and individual volunteers who all play 
> a role in maintaining and improving the Internet.
>
> jack at 3kitty.org
>
> What organizations maintain the Internet?
>
> There are many organizations that work together to maintain and 
> improve the Internet. These organizations include:
>
> 1.
>
>     The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN),
>     which is responsible for coordinating the global system of unique
>     identifiers that are used on the Internet, such as domain names
>     and IP addresses.
>
> 2.
>
>     The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which is an international
>     community of organizations and individuals that develops standards
>     for the World Wide Web.
>
> 3.
>
>     The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), which is a group of
>     volunteers who are responsible for the technical development of
>     the Internet.
>
> 4.
>
>     The Internet Society (ISOC), which is a nonprofit organization
>     that promotes the development and use of the Internet for the
>     benefit of all people.
>
> 5.
>
>     National research and education networks (NRENs), which are
>     networks that connect educational institutions and research
>     organizations within a specific country.
>
> 6.
>
>     Regional Internet registries (RIRs), which are organizations that
>     are responsible for allocating IP addresses within a specific region.
>
> 7.
>
>     Internet service providers (ISPs), which are companies that
>     provide individuals and organizations with access to the Internet.
>
> 8.
>
>     Government agencies, such as the National Science Foundation (NSF)
>     in the United States, which provide funding and support for the
>     development and maintenance of the Internet.
>
> jack at 3kitty.org
> Who decides policies of the Internet?
>
> There is no one person or organization that decides the policies of 
> the Internet. Instead, the policies of the Internet are determined 
> through a collaborative process that involves a variety of 
> stakeholders, including governments, private companies, technical 
> experts, and civil society organizations.
>
> One of the main organizations that helps to coordinate the development 
> of Internet policies is the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), which is 
> a United Nations-based platform that brings together stakeholders from 
> all over the world to discuss and develop policies related to the 
> Internet. Other organizations, such as the Internet Corporation for 
> Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the World Wide Web Consortium 
> (W3C), also play a role in developing policies that affect the 
> functioning of the Internet.
>
> Ultimately, the policies of the Internet are determined through a 
> process of consensus-building and collaboration among the many 
> different stakeholders that are involved in the operation and 
> management of the Internet.
>
> jack at 3kitty.org
> What actions has the Internet Governance Forum taken?
>
> The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is a United Nations-based platform 
> that brings together stakeholders from all over the world to discuss 
> and develop policies related to the Internet. It was created in 2006 
> to serve as a neutral, inclusive space where all stakeholders could 
> come together to discuss and share their views on a wide range of 
> issues related to the Internet.
>
> The IGF has taken many actions over the years to promote the growth 
> and development of the Internet. Some of these actions include:
>
>  *
>
>     Organizing annual meetings and workshops where stakeholders can
>     discuss and share their views on a wide range of Internet-related
>     issues, including cybersecurity, data privacy, online freedom of
>     expression, and the digital divide.
>
>  *
>
>     Developing best practices and guidelines for the use of the
>     Internet, such as the IGF Best Practice Forums, which provide
>     guidance on how to address specific challenges and opportunities
>     related to the Internet.
>
>  *
>
>     Providing a platform for stakeholders to engage in dialogue and
>     build relationships with each other, which helps to foster a more
>     collaborative and inclusive approach to Internet governance.
>
>  *
>
>     Supporting the development of national and regional Internet
>     governance forums, which help to bring the benefits of the
>     Internet to more people around the world.
>
>  *
>
>     Advocating for the inclusion of all stakeholders in the
>     decision-making processes related to the Internet, including
>     governments, the private sector, civil society organizations, and
>     technical experts.
>
> Overall, the actions of the IGF are aimed at promoting the growth and 
> development of the Internet in a way that is inclusive, transparent, 
> and accountable.
>
>
> jack at 3kitty.org
> Does the current mechanism for governing the Internet work well?
>
> The current mechanism for governing the Internet is based on a 
> decentralized, bottom-up approach that involves a wide variety of 
> stakeholders, including governments, private companies, technical 
> experts, and civil society organizations. This approach has been 
> successful in many ways, such as promoting the growth and development 
> of the Internet and fostering a more inclusive and collaborative 
> approach to decision-making.
>
> However, some people have criticized the current mechanism for 
> governing the Internet, arguing that it is not always effective at 
> addressing important issues, such as cybersecurity and online privacy. 
> Some have also argued that it does not adequately represent the 
> interests of all stakeholders, particularly those in developing countries.
>
> Overall, the effectiveness of the current mechanism for governing the 
> Internet is a matter of debate, and there is no consensus on whether 
> it is working well or not. Some people believe that it is largely 
> effective, while others think that it needs to be improved in order to 
> better address the challenges and opportunities of the Internet.
>
> jack at 3kitty.org
> Should someone be in charge of the Internet?
>
> Whether or not someone should be in charge of the Internet is a matter 
> of debate. Some people believe that the current decentralized, 
> bottom-up approach to governing the Internet is effective and should 
> be maintained. This approach involves a wide variety of stakeholders, 
> including governments, private companies, technical experts, and civil 
> society organizations, and it has been successful in promoting the 
> growth and development of the Internet.
>
> However, others argue that the current approach is not always 
> effective at addressing important issues, such as cybersecurity and 
> online privacy. They believe that the Internet is such an important 
> global resource that it should be managed by a single entity that has 
> the authority and resources to make decisions that are in the best 
> interests of the global community.
>
> Ultimately, the question of whether someone should be in charge of the 
> Internet is a complex one, and there is no right or wrong answer. It 
> depends on how you view the role of the Internet in society and what 
> you think is the best way to ensure that it continues to be a positive 
> force for global development and innovation.
>

jack at 3kitty.org
What does "being in charge of the Internet" mean?

Being in charge of the Internet would mean having the authority and 
responsibility to make decisions about the operation and management of 
the Internet. This would likely involve setting policies and guidelines 
for the use of the Internet, allocating resources to support its growth 
and development, and coordinating the efforts of the various 
organizations and individuals that are involved in maintaining and 
improving the Internet.

However, it is important to note that the Internet is a decentralized, 
bottom-up system, and it is not currently controlled by any single 
entity. This means that it is not clear what it would mean to be "in 
charge" of the Internet, or how such a role could be implemented in 
practice. The idea of being in charge of the Internet is therefore 
largely theoretical, and it is not clear how it would work in the real 
world.