Organization: ICANN

ICANN has named the independent objector for its new gTLD process. Professor Alain Pellet will act "solely in the interests of the public who use the global Internet" by lodging objections to applications for new Internet extensions that he feels are "objectionable". Pellet is a leading European lawyer and was a member of the United Nations International Law Commission from 1990 to last year. He has also been a lawyer at the International Court of Justice [full bio]. The job of Independent Objector was created to tackle concerns there would be applications for offensive Internet extensions that no one was in a position to object to, such as dot-nazi.

It's time for Internet organizations to ditch the palace politics and grow up

Starting next week, the United Nations in Geneva will host a series of back-to-back meetings with a broad focus: deciding the ways in which the future of the Internet will be decided.

Most meetings are open and attendance is free. And yet, despite the low barriers to entry, one key demographic is largely missing: business.

For example, of the 300 people registered with an online website covering the first of four conferences (the WSIS Forum), only 26 identify themselves as coming from the private sector, and of them, only 11 are not from specialist Internet infrastructure companies.

The same pattern is repeated at the conference that follows: consultations over the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). And business numbers will fall even further for the last two: "enhanced co-operation" and the annual meeting of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD).

ICANN released another series of updates on its TAS software system, which has been down for over a fortnight. It has received 2,091 applications for new Internet extensions, with an additional 214 in the system. However, 105 of them have had details of their bids seen by 50 unrelated applicants. Those affected will be informed, ICANN said, without giving further details or an opening date for the system.

ICANN's failure to deal with a flaw in its computer software speaks to a bigger problem with the organization itself

It was supposed to be ICANN's swansong. A program more successful than anyone had dared to expect. An expansion of the Internet that would put the organization at the heart of a revolution; where anyone could apply for any Internet extension they wished.

Even considering its size and scope, the new gTLD project had not been an easy ride. Delays measured in years rather than months. Heated policy debates. High-level politics. And then, just weeks before it was due to go live, a Washington broadside that saw no less than three national newspapers, two Congressional hearings and one highly critical FTC report, all say the same thing: hold off, you're not ready. Despite the pressure, and even admitting that the program was unfinished, ICANN threw itself into the hands of fate and launched on 12 January.

The following video was released by ICANN on Thursday 19 March, one week after it has taken its application system for new Internet extensions offline. A full transcript appears below the video.

Brad White (BW), ICANN Director of Media Affairs: Jeff, you're ICANN's Chief Security Officer. You were brought in to look at this glitch in the new gTLD application system, to see if it was in anyway connected with hacking or a cyber attack. What did you determine?

Jeff Moss (JM), ICANN Chief Security Officer: We didn't find anything. So we analyzed all the logs and looked at any other indicators that might suggest an intrusion, unusual activity, network activity. We didn't find anything.

BW: So at this point, no indication of that?

JM: Correct.

BW: Why did you take the system offline?

For an organization that repeatedly promises to improve its accountability and transparency, ICANN remains dangerously comfortable with providing only the barest details of a crucial software failure it suffered this week.

Literally the day that it was due to close applications on its flagship program to create potentially thousands of new Internet extensions, the organization announced it was suspending its online application system due to "unusual behavior".

Since then the company's COO Akram Atallah has put out a daily update. Other than these few short paragraphs of basic detail, however, the organization has refused to provide any further information, despite global negative coverage.

Coordinator: The recording has now started. Please go ahead.

Glen de Saint Gery: Thank you very much. I'll do the roll call for you, Stéphane.

Stéphane van Gelder: Thanks.

Glen de Saint Gery: Good morning, good afternoon, good evening everyone. This is the Council call on the 12th of April. Jeff Neuman.

Jeff Neuman: Present.

Glen de Saint Gery: Ching Chiao.

Ching Chiao: I’m here.

Glen de Saint Gery: Jonathan Robinson. Mason Cole.

Mason Cole: Here.

Glen de Saint Gery: Stéphane van Gelder.

Stéphane van Gelder: Yes.

Glen de Saint Gery: Thomas Rickert.

Thomas Rickert: Present.

Glen de Saint Gery: We have apologies from Yoav Keren and he has given his proxy to Stéphane van Gelder.

Zahid Jamil.

Zahid Jamil: Here.

Glen de Saint Gery: John Berard.

John Berard: Here.