IG4D: Multi-stakeholder model is slow, but gives voice to millions – ICANN CEO

L-r Rod Beckstrom speaking with chairman, Steve Crocker

President and Chief Executive Officer Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Mr. Rod Beckstrom has disclosed that though the multi-stakeholder model based on bottom-up is slow, it avails the voices of million people to be heard.

This is coming as over 17,000 participants have signed up to attend the on-going 43^rd ICANN international public meeting holding in San Jose, Costa Rica, and many more are registering even till this morning.

Responding to ITRealms Online during a press conference after presentation of his presidential report at the occasion, Beckstrom said that ICANN has been built by consensus from the bottom-up, and that gives voice to the millions whose future have been tied to the Internet.

He also said that the Internet community is an ecosystem that has an effective way to convey its complexity and interdependence.

“So, it is fitting that this week, the Internet community is gathering here in beautiful Costa Rica, where examples of stunning natural and complex ecosystems exist in abundance and harmony,” he said.

According to him, the complexity of interplay of technology, organizations and individuals is what makes the global Internet work.

He pointed out that a little more than a year ago, a small event; photos posted on a Facebook page in Tunisia sparked massive protests across the Middle East and redirected the future of an entire region. Stressing in that moment, the power of this ecosystem was demonstrated beyond any doubt.

Beckstrom emphasized that though the world now moves fast and change comes rapidly and often unexpectedly, the multi-stakeholder decision-making model of ICANN could be slow and sometimes painfully slow.

“Traditional top-down structures may get things done quickly. But in doing so, many voices don’t get heard. And we need to hear them,” he said.

As said by him, the multi-stakeholder model ICANN live by is built by consensus from the bottom-up, and that gives voice to the millions whose future is tied to the Internet.

“This model was created to protect the stability and security of the domain name system. It is adaptive, decentralized and highly resilient, adding that this principle needs to remain resilient in the months and years ahead.

Remmy Nweke in Costa Rica

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