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# openDemocracy and internet governance
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/18993/
- Published: 2006-01-06T12:01:05.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:34:37.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:15

Given my views (as expressed [here](https://www.opendemocracy.net/media/wsis%5F3029.jsp) on openDemocracy at the opening of last year's World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis) I was surprised to learn from [Paul Weyrich](http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/weyrich/060105?ref=opendemocracy.net) this morning that according to the president of [America's Survival](http://www.usasurvival.org/?ref=opendemocracy.net) [Cliff Kincaid](http://www.usasurvival.org/bio.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) I am in fact working for an organisation which "advocates granting the UN control over the Internet to help this scandal-ridden organisation regain its prestige throughout the world".  
  
I thought I'd better double-check before handing in my notice. A quick scan of our ongoing debate "[Governing the net](https://www.opendemocracy.net/media-internetgovernance/issue.jsp)", therefore, came as a relief. Messrs Weyrich and Kincaid, however, clearly forgot to scroll down the page.  
  
If they had, they would have found cool analysis of the initial stages of the WSIS process from [Solana Larsen](https://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy-internetgovernance/article%5F1630.jsp) and [James Cowling](https://www.opendemocracy.net/media-internetgovernance/article%5F1654.jsp), and, further down, a debate between [Stefaan G. Verhulst](https://www.opendemocracy.net/media-internetgovernance/article%5F35.jsp) of the Markle foundation and ICANN's pioneer and founding chair, [Esther Dyson](https://www.opendemocracy.net/media-internetgovernance/article%5F32.jsp), differing over the relevance of ICANN and the need for reform over the coming years.  
  
The most recent two entries in the debate, myself and my good friend and colleague [Bill Thompson](https://www.opendemocracy.net/media-internetgovernance/future%5Ftunis%5F3048.jsp), represent two very differing views on internet governance. Whereas he sees a UN-controlled ICANN as a way to [strengthen an organisation that needs our backing](https://www.opendemocracy.net/globalization-accountability/cyberspace%5F2832.jsp), I can't think of anything worse than "[a conglomerate of technophobe heads of state working out what to do with it](https://www.opendemocracy.net/media-internetgovernance/wsis%5F3029.jsp)".  
  
Differing views are **always** welcome on openDemocracy - I should know, I'm the managing editor. And I'm sure we would welcome a [contribution](https://www.opendemocracy.net/about/write%5Ffor%5FoD.jsp) from both Mr Weyrich and Cliff Kincaid for these pages, as I'm confident that when they write for openDemocracy, they would do their research first.