The Markle Foundation has been supporting the development of a variety of ideas and views to stimulate public debate on how to provide for adequate representation of the public interest of Internet users worldwide within ICANN, particularly those who do not have a commercial interest in the Internet.
Two reports released this week correctly conclude that ICANN can no longer be described as a technical standards setting body that does not make policy decisions. As such, both reports acknowledge the need for ICANN to adequately provide for representation of the public interest if it is to be a legitimate entity deserving of compliance with its decisions, and able to substitute for governmental decision-making.
