Keep The Core Neutral

What is this all about?

Protecting freedom of expression and innovation in Internet domain name policy.

ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is preparing to dramatically expand the number of generic top-level domains (gTLDs, like “.com” “.org” “.net” etc.) that are approved each year. As a result, the gTLD approval process will become much more important than before.

As ICANN says on the web site for the upcoming meeting in Los Angeles occurring from 27 October through 2 November 2007: "The meeting should prove particular[ly] important for the future of the network thanks to the main topics under discussion. Internationalised domain names will make the Internet more intuitive for billions of non-English speakers around the world. Likewise, new generic top-level domains may change the whole way we approach the Internet in the future." [emphasis added]

Some policymakers surrounding ICANN want ICANN to deny approval of new gTLDs on the basis of moral, political and commercial judgments and other non-technical criteria, but ICANN has no properly accountable process for making these judgments, which would likely lead to considerable fiat-based censorship of free speech and invasion of national sovereignty surrounding the registration of gTLDs.

This is a symptom of “mission creep” at ICANN over the years, expanding beyond technical and operational matters to address general public policy issues. “Internet Governance” is spilling over into the realm of General Public Governance, but there are no effective structures in place to ensure reliable processes of public accountability. The fixed ad hoc governance system set up at ICANN does not scale well to effective representation of general public policy interests.

The Internet’s influence has become too important to allow public policy matters to be decided by a private institution that has fundamental and systematic flaws undermining its accountability to the public.

Who decides this policy?

The ICANN Board makes all direct policy decisions.

However, ICANN has set up various ad hoc advisory organizations that consider policy and make proposals to the Board, including the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO), Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC), At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC), etc. ICANN also operates according to a Memo of Understanding (MoU) with the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

We will primarily target ICANN Board members, as well as all other various influential parties.

What can you do to help?

• Sign the Petition!

  Sign our Petition urging the ICANN Board to remain focused on its technical mission and refrain from embedding any particular national, regional, moral, or religious policy objectives into global ICANN policy. Keep The Core Neutral!

• Join the Coalition!

  When you sign on as a member of the Keep The Core Neutral Coalition we ask you to help us inform the public that these issues are important and that they can influence the outcome. And, where you have experience or resources that can assist our campaign, please collaborate with us on our activities as we move forward.

For more information, see Frequently Asked Questions

For answers to objections to the principle of Core Neutrality, see Myth Busters

For press inquiries, notifications of press exposure, or general questions about this campaign, contact Dan Krimm, Campaign Director, Keep The Core Neutral at danATipjusticeDOTorg.