UN-Tunisia Internet Governance Result Must Be Fine (Because the AP and Mugabe Are Whining)

Matt Moore of the AP tries to spin it:

Despite a late-night agreement averting a global showdown over continued U.S. control of the Internet’s addressing system, many delegates to a U.N. technology summit did not think the Americans emerged victorious.

Representatives of a number of countries remained adamant that U.S. control must be tempered if the Internet is to fully reach its potential. And even traditional allies of Washington considered it to have opened the door to the possibility of more shared governance.

Yeah, but Matt, nothing changed (even this link says “for now”–Zheesh).

Also in a very good sign, Zimbabwean butcher Robert Mugabe isn’t happy either (at same link):

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe spoke for the more radical opposition to U.S. control.

“Why should our diverse world be beholden to an American company?” he told government, business and other delegates as the three-day U.N. World Summit on the Information Society opened Wednesday.

Since AP and Robert Mugabe are whining in unison, I have to conclude it went well for us. Whew.

Another confirmation that things turned out well from The Wall Street Journal (requires subscription): “The upshot of the so-called ‘Tunis Agenda’ is that the everyday Internet user will see almost no change in how cyberspace works. That’s quite an accomplishment on the part of American negotiators and allies such as Canada and Australia. Many observers had feared that this meeting would end up giving birth to an intergovernmental body that would clog the ‘Net with regulation and bureaucracy.”
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