Centre for Internet & Society

Book Review: Apocalypse Now Redux

by Nishant Shah

My review for Arundhati Roy and John Cusack's new book that captures their encounter with Edward Snowden, 'Things that can and cannot be said' is now out. It's an engaging, if somewhat freewheeling, political critique of the times we live in.

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Analysis of the Report of the Group of Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security and Implications for India

by Elonnai Hickok and Vipul Kharbanda

This paper analyses the report of the Group of Experts and and India’s compliance with its recommendations based on existing laws and policies. Given the global nature of these challenges and the need for nations to holistically address such challenges from a human rights and security perspective, CIS believes that the Group of Experts and similar international forums are useful and important forums for India to actively engage with.

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DIDP Request #28 - ICANN renews Verisign’s RZM Contract?

by Asvatha Babu

Our request to ICANN was related to our (mistaken) assumption that Verisign and ICANN had signed an agreement for Root Zone Maintenance and had recently renewed it. In that context we had asked for information such as documents reflecting the decision making process, copy of the current RZM agreement, public comments and an audit report of Verisign’s RZM functions.

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DIDP Request #27 - On ICANN’s support to new gTLD Applicants

by Asvatha Babu

In order to promote access to the New gTLD Program in developing regions, ICANN set up the New gTLD Applicant Support Program (Program) which seeks to facilitate cooperation between gTLD applicants from developing countries and those willing and able to support them financially (and in kind).

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DIDP Request #25 - Curbing Sexual Harassment at ICANN

by Asvatha Babu

Markus Kummer at Public Forum 2 mentioned that ICANN has standards of behavior regarding sexual harassment that are applicable for its staff.

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DIDP Request #23 - ICANN does not Know how Diverse its Comment Section Is

by Asvatha Babu

While researching ICANN and the IANA Stewardship Transition Coordination Group (ICG), we came across a diversity analysis report of a public comment section.

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DIDP Request #22 - Reconsideration Requests from Parties affected by ICANN Action

by Asvatha Babu

According to ICANN by-laws, ICANN has the responsibility to answer to reconsideration requests filed by those directly affected by its actions.

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DIDP Request #21 - ICANN’s Relationship with the RIRs

by Asvatha Babu

At CIS, we wanted a clearer understanding of ICANN’s relationship with the 5 internet registries. The large amount contributed by the RIRs to ICANN’s funding lead us to question the nature of this relationship as well as the payment. We wrote to ICANN asking them for these details.

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DIDP Request #20 - Is Presumptive Renewal of Verisign’s Contracts a Good Thing?

by Asvatha Babu

ICANN’s contract agreements with different registries contain a presumptive renewal clause. Unless they voluntarily give up their rights or there is a material breach by the registry operator, their contract with ICANN will be automatically renewed.

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DIDP Request #19 - ICANN’s role in the Postponement of the IANA Transition

by Asvatha Babu

In March 2014, the National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA) of the United States government announced plans to shift the Internet Assigned Names and Numbers (IANA) functions from ICANN to the global multistakeholder community. The initial deadline set for this was September 2015.

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