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<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Who rules the internet?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>- Who looks after the
billions of web addresses that make up the internet?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>- Why are web addresses
only in English?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>- Should countries manage
their own country code names?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>At the moment it seems
that the internet is free, democratic and unstoppable. But a closer look
reveals controversies... </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Some argue that the
current system of internet governance keeps the web’s essential
characteristic of freedom, and keeps the internet out of the hands of
governments. But others say the system isn’t transparent or accountable
enough.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>These critical issues
will be debated in November 2005 at the World Summit on the Information
Society. Journalists are all too aware of the importance of being able to
freely access and exchange information. That’s why the media has a
responsibility to analyse and report on the politics of the internet. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>For the full story, read:
</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Who rules the internet?
Understanding ICANN : <a href="http://www.panos.org.uk/">http://www.panos.org.uk/</a></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>----------------------------------------</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>About Panos ICT Media
Tool-Kit</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>This is the first in a
series of short briefing documents for journalists on different aspects of ICTs
and the “information society” – the Panos “Media
toolkit on ICTs”. The series is offered as a service to journalists and
others wishing to cover and understand information society issues in the period
leading up to the second stage of the World Summit on the Information Society
(November 2005). Future briefs will cover other ICT governance institutions,
current issues in ICT governance, and emerging technologies. If you would like
to receive this and future issues (by e-mail or hard copy), please contact
Muralis@panoslondon.org.uk. or find them on the Panos website <a
href="www.panos.org.uk">www.panos.org.uk</a></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>----------------------------------------</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Murali Shanmugavelan</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Communication for
Development Programme</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Email:
murali.shanmugavelan@panos.org.uk</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>----------------------------------------------</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Panos Institute</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>9, </span></font><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>White Lion Street</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>London</span></font><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>, </span></font><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>N1 9PD</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Phone: +44 (0)20 7239
7608 (direct)</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Phone: +44 (0)20
7278 1111(board)</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Fax: +44 (0)20 7278 0345 </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>----------------------------------------------</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Making Sense of Global
Change. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Panos-London's mission is
to work with the media to enable developing countries to shape and communicate
their own development agendas by catalysing and promoting informed public
debate. We particularly focus on amplifying the voices of the poor and marginalised.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
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