Controlling information

Contrary to its previous commitments, the U.S. is refusing to hand control over the Internet's root computers to ICANN.

The American argument is that any handover could lead to "uncertainty". But for everybody but the administration, the decision in fact leads to far more uncertainty than a changeover, particularly with the administration going to far to control information domestically.

The big question now is whether it's possible, and worth the effort, to rework the entire network to run off of a different international system. My take would be "yes" - better to go to a bit of expense now than have the world's main information source cut off for political reasons later.